Karen Griffin passed away on November 1, 2023 at the age of 61 in Detroit, Michigan.

Karen was born on November 4, 1961 to Calvin Junior and Ethel Griffin.  She grew up in Detroit. She attended Dominican High School of Detroit from 1975 to 1979 and graduated with an Associate's degree from Wayne County Community College. She was highly proud of her education, she achieved a Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Award in 2015 along with her Associates degree in General Studies.

After graduating, Karen worked a multitude of jobs over her extensive career.  She was a daycare and pre-school worker at a local Montessori, worked as a lunch-aide at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, and continued in that role at St. Mary Catholic School in Wayne until she moved to the parish office as the office manager, where she worked for over a decade.  She also worked as a travel agent for Northwest Airlines, where she was given the opportunity to travel the world. She traveled to many locations including Paris, New Orleans, Traverse City, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Las Vegas, Florida, Boston, MA, and Niagara Falls, Canada.  During which Paris quickly became her favorite city.  Karen was always working side jobs in order to raise her children on her own.  She was notably hard-working, independent, strong,witty and always had a sense of humor .

She enjoyed art, especially painting and crocheting.  Karen was loving, nurturing, and incredibly proud of her children.  She was loved by many and will be deeply missed.

Karen is survived by son, Sebastian Butler II and three daughters, Briana Butler, Nerys Butler, Santeiu Butler.  She is preceded in death by parents, Calvin Junior Griffin and Ethel Griffin.

It's very difficult to have a loving mother leave so soon. Especially such a wonderful and exceptional person as Karen Griffin was. A close friend of hers mentioned that she left us the morning of All Saint's Day. Her children feel as though this outcome is well fitting seeing as she was as close to a saint as they remember her to be. She provided them love, a happy home, a good education, comfort; the list is endless. Ms. Griffin gave them the world and there are no words to express how much she was loved by her family, friends, and supporters. Her children want to share their last word their mother: "Mom, we can't thank you enough for your dedication raising us on your own and we are so proud to have had such a strong, devoted, and selfless mother. We love you, Ma."