Karen B. Dietz

Karen Barbara Dietz (nee Barrett) was born on April 24, 1941 at Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Lackawanna, NY, to the loving parents or Lawrence William and Alice Mae. She was their second child after their eldest, Joann, then followed by Raymond, their youngest. Karen grew up in the Ridgewood Village and attended McKinley Elementary School. She was a 1960 graduate of South Park High school. On October 6, 1962, she married her sweetheart, Robert James Dietz. Between 1963 and 1970, they had three children, Kathleen, Robert, and Lori. Karen worked for Remington Rand, which was located in the Electric Building in downtown Buffalo. She eventually took a position for Ogden Allied Food Services in 1973 in the concession stands for the newly built Rich Stadium. She worked every football game, concert and event at the stadium until 1998 when Delaware North secured the contract as the new concessioners. In conjunction to working at the stadium, Karen began her 44 year career at Tops Friendly Markets at the Michael Road location in 1974. Starting as a cashier, she worked her way into the customer service office and eventually became the Office Manager. She stayed in this position for most of her career and finally retired in August 2018. Karen and her husband enjoyed camping and family vacations with their children, which always included Allegany State Park as yearly summer trip that everyone looked forward to. Additional weekend trips and outings may have included, Baseball Hall of Fame, Hockey Hall of Fame, Football Hall of Fame, Howes Caverns, Sea World, African Lion Safari, Attica /Arcade Train Ride, Ice Mines in Coudersport, visiting the family farm in Carter Camp Pennsylvania, Genesee Country Village and Museum, Crystal Beach, and Fantasy Island. In the fall, weekends would be spent riding around looking at the foliage, going apple and grape picking, or visiting Pumpkinville. In the winter, family outings would consist of driving around to look at the Christmas lights throughout the neighborhoods and taking the kids to Chestnut Ridge Park to go sledding and if brave enough, go on the toboggan chute. Karen became a grandmother for the first time in 1983. In 1997 she had welcomed her 6th and last grandchild into the world. These grandchildren brought so much joy to the lives of both Karen and her husband. Holidays and family vacations became more exciting. At some point in her tenure as a grandmother, Karen became affectionately nicknamed "Gramska". On March 6, 2001, Karen lost her husband unexpectedly. Life was getting back to normal for Karen, when tragedy struck again just 5 years later. On May 26, 2006, Karens mother, Alice, was suddenly taken ill and passed away. This would be a life changing event for her, as she would now become the main care giver of her younger brother Raymond. Alice and Ray had lived in the apartment above Karen since the early 70s. In 2014, Karen became a great grandmother. At the time of her passing, she had three wonderful great-grandchildren. Throughout her lifetime, Karen enjoyed painting ceramics, bingo, going to the casino, camping, family time, baking, cooking family dinners on Sundays and Wednesdays. Beloved wife of the late Robert Dietz; devoted mother of Kathleen OSullivan, Robert (Carrie) Dietz and Lori (Derek) Mehnert; cherished grandmother of Nicole (James), Daniel (Brittany), Kathleen (Bryan), Michael, James and Canaan (Michael); adored great grandmother of Amelia, Daniel and Landon; loving daughter of the late Lawrence and Alice Barrett; dear sister of Joann (late Edmund) Larivey and Raymond Barrett. Also loved by nieces, nephews, family and friends. Relatives and friends may visit the LOMBARDO FUNERAL HOME (Southtowns Chapel) 3060 Abbott Rd. near Lake Ave. on Tuesday (October 22) from 3:00-8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Teresa Church, 1974 Seneca St., South Buffalo on Wednesday morning at 9:30 oclock. Please assemble at Church. Interment St. Matthews Cemetery.