Karen Lee Hallman (Parrish)

Karen L. Hallman, 65, of Hellertown, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 10, 2024 after a year-long battle with Mysthenia Gravis, following a four-decade fight with Multiple Sclerosis. Karen resided in Bethlehem for the majority of her life, until relocating to assisted living in 2023. Born in Abington, she was the daughter of the late William Parrish and Loretta Nancy (Beckershoff) Parrish.

Karen received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University before earning her Masters in Social Work from Bryn Mawr University. Karen spent her career with Lehigh County’s Children & Youth Services, passionately advocating for child welfare.

In retirement, Karen continued her beloved quilting, creating masterpieces for as many people in her life as she could, and donating hundreds of sewn masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to children in foster care. Karen’s greatest joy in the last years, however, was to be a grandmother, and she was fantastic at it. Her family will remember her love of the beach, enjoyment of good food, her voracious reading habit—and she will forever reign as Family Yahtzee Champion.

Surviving her are her children: Laura Hallman Baxter, son-in-law Tyler Baxter, and Evan Hallman; grandchildren: Jack Baxter and Nola Baxter; siblings: William Parrish and her sister-in-law Kathy Parrish; and her nephews: Robert and Ken Parrish. Preceding her is her brother Wayne Parrish.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held later in the summer, in accordance with her wishes. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation or the National MS Society. To leave online condolences, please visit her “Book of Memories” at falkfuneralhomes.com