Harper (Karen) Filarecki Sedgwick RIP

Clarence alumna ('69) Harper (Karen) Ann Filarecki Sedgwick passed away September 20, 2013.

From her sister's fb page:

"Karen died,Saturday, September 21.2013, 9:05 est. Her husband Michael was with her. Karen as I have always known her did not suffer in the end. She fought a extremely hard to beat this evil disease, CJD. A form of Mad Cow Disease. Harper unfortunately hit the lottery, one in a million. There have been only 200 cases in the US reported. Michael assured me she was beautiful in death, just as she was when she was here with us."

 SEDGWICK - Karen Ann "Harper "(nee Filarecki) Of Millbrook, NY, formerly of Clarence Center NY. Died peacefully after a lengthy illness. September 20, 2013, beloved wife of Michael M. Sedgwick; loving mother to Chelsea Chaffee (Justin) Parson, Sydney Chaffee (Mathew) Minton; grandmother of Henry and Owen; daughter of Daniel and MaryJane Filarecki; sister of Darlene (Jeff) Feinen, Joann (Donald) Chatwin, Maryann Kos and brother Daniel (Diane) Filarecki; survived by loving nieces and nephews. Mass of Remembrance, Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 10 AM at St. Augustine Church, Goodrich Road, Clarence Center, NY.

Also, from the Poughkeepsie Journal:

Friends and family of resident Harper Ann Sedgwick will remember her as an enthusiatic, invigorated publisher, teacher, writer and lecturer.

Sedgwick died at age 62 on Sept. 21 after being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a brain disorder, according to a press release.

After founding Flamingo Publications in 2011, Sedgwick published “Edna,” inspired by the work of Edna St. Vincent Millay, and “Henry.” In these journals, she gathered the writing of known authors and gave unknown authors the chance to be published.

Scott Meyer, owner of Merritt Books in Millbrook, said Sedgwick ran writing workshops in his store and had great ideas for the community.

“I’m glad to have known Harper,” Meyer said. “She helped a lot of people, a lot of children and a lot of writers.”

Her life will be celebrated at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday at Grace Episcopal Church in the village.

She was born Karen Filarecki on July 26, 1951, in Lockport, Niagara County, and graduated from Clarence Senior High School in Clarence, Erie County, in 1969. She then earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Sedgwick moved to Millbrook in 2009 after she met and married Michael Sedgwick, owner of Fountain Press, a printing business.

She took on the day-to-day tasks of running the business, which is located in Amenia.

Sedgwick was a major contributor on the committee to organize the 2010 and 2011 Millbrook Literary Festival as well as a member of the Board of the Millbrook Business Association.

“It is hard not to think of Harper and smile,” Washington Town Clerk Mary Alex said. “Her honesty, zest for life and pizzazz were so appealing.”

Sedgwick is best remembered in her own words, “I am always mother, teacher and writer,” according to Katharine Jameson, a longtime friend.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance center atwww.cjdsurveillance.com/donation.html.