Karen E. Parker

Lincoln – Karen E. (Fournier) Parker, 73, passed away on Friday, January 30, 2026, after an extended hospital stay. She was the beloved wife of Ronald Rapoza, having shared forty-one years together. Karen was born in Providence to the late Louis and Gertrude (Zym) Fournier.

She was the proprietor of K&T Jewelry in Lincoln for many years. Karen shared her artistic and creative ability with her family and friends, through her business, her home decorating and crafting talents and fashioned everything from jewelry to stained glass.

In her leisure time, Karen was the life of any party, enjoying a good margarita, playing cards, specifically Pitch (High Low Jack) with friends and family, and her hobbies included card reading, traveling and cruising to various regions, including many destinations throughout Europe, Russia and the Caribbean. In addition to her many talents and hobbies, Karen was a longtime volunteer for the Meals-on-Wheels program and at the Providence YMCA, caring for the youth and provided philanthropic support to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Shriner’s Hospital for many years.

Karen will be lovingly remembered by all whose lives she touched over the past seventy-three years.

Besides her loving husband, Karen leaves two stepchildren, Keith M. Rapoza of Johnston, and Lori Ann Hartley and her husband, Peter, of Ft. Myers, FL; two siblings, Robert Fournier and his wife, Mary Ann, of East Providence, and Louis Fournier and his wife, Elizabeth, of Richmond, RI; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Fournier of Coventry, Linda Fournier of Johnston, and Susan Andrade of Providence; fourteen nieces and nephews, and sixteen great-nieces and great-nephews. She was the sister of the late Richard Fournier, Russell Fournier and his wife, Ruth, Audrey Medeiros, David Fournier and Michael Fournier.

A Celebration of Karen’s Life will be held at a later date yet to be decided. Flowers are respectfully omitted. Memorial gifts to either St. Jude’s or Shriner’s Hospital respectively. Arrangements are entrusted to William W. Tripp Funeral Home, Pawtucket, RI. www.TrippFuneralhome.com