Karen P Timochko

Karen Timochko, 79, of Lanoka Harbor, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2026. Born in Orange, NJ, raised in Belleville and Clifton, Karen is the daughter of the late Philomena and Patrick Tomasulo.

Karen graduated from Kean University and for over 40 years, dedicated her life to teaching. She started her career at Spring Lake Heights Elementary School in 1968. After staying home with her daughters for a few years, Karen opened The Children’s Hour Nursery school which welcomed preschoolers from Lacey Township for 14 years. She later taught first grade at the Cecil S. Collins School in Barnegat, NJ from which she retired. Her impact as an educator extended far beyond the classroom, leaving a lasting legacy in the community she loved.

It was at Spring Lake Heights Elementary School that Karen first learned about the monarch butterfly program. In the early days, her family would go on road trips around town to find milkweed leaves and caterpillars. She would share them with her students, family and children of the neighborhood so they could watch the transformation into butterflies. Today, Karen has her own milkweed patch in her backyard and released butterflies a few weeks ago.

Karen was involved in local civic life and eager to give back to her community. She was a Girl Scout troop leader, active member of The Friends of the Lacey Library and The Junior Women’s Club, where she formed lifelong friendships and worked to support local literacy and community groups. She loved baking, gardening, traveling, playing Jeopardy and rooting for the Yankees, Giants and Villanova basketball. Socially, she was involved in her neighborhood Bunco group lasting over 20 years.

Karen was the loving wife of Michael Timochko, with whom she has shared 58 years of marriage. Together, they built a life rooted in love, dedication and generosity. Karen’s greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted mother to Donna Schneider, married to Ryan Schneider and Emily Leary, married to Brian Leary. She was the proud Grandma to her seven grandchildren, Kate and Robert Schneider, Brendan and Grace Jelley, Tyler, Carter and Addison Leary. She was the dear sister to Patrick Tomasulo, Jr. and sister-in-law to Ann Hanrahan, married to the late James Hanrahan.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Karen’s memory may be made to Fulfill (The Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties), 1769 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08753. www.fulfillnj.org/waystogive/

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