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It is with deep sorrow that the Buffolino family announces the death of their beloved mother, Mrs. Karen Lee Buffolino, 69. Mrs. Buffolino, the widow of Biagio "Pops" Buffolino, entered into rest on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home & Crematory are caring for the family. A funeral service to honor her life will be held at 2 o'clock on Sunday, September 15, 2024, in Savannah Advent Christian Church, with The Rev. John Gallagher officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home. Mrs. Buffolino was born in Edward AFB, CA, on January 10, 1955. She was the daughter of the late Paul Bennett and Ruth Bridendolph Bennett. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to The American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 11796, Charlotte, NC 28220. Karen was raised in Hagerstown, MD. She graduated from Hagerstown High School and attended cosmetology school. She later met her husband in Hagerstown. They raised their three daughters in Chambersburg, PA, until they moved to the Carolinas in 1990. In 2012, she moved to Bishopville, SC, and opened New York by the Slice in Hartsville, SC. You could see her working behind the counter most afternoons until she retired in 2020. Karen was involved with Savannah Advent Church in Bishopville, SC. She enjoyed Sunday service and fellowship with the members. Karen was an amazing mother, mother-in-law, wife, friend, sister, second mother to many, and an ever more amazing grandmother. She was a laugher; if you could make her laugh, you stole the key to her heart. She enjoyed simple family gatherings. She looked forward to them even more as her family grew and moved across the Carolinas. Not many gatherings went past without her making her three daughters and three sons-in-law recreate a picture taken over 20 years ago. She enjoyed long conversations at the kitchen table with tea. Karen loved her dogs; she loved all dogs; at any moment, you could find dog treats in her pocketbook or her pocket. She was ready to baby any dog she saw. Karen was a gifted artist of many forms: sewing, drawing, painting, and repurposing. Mostly, she enjoyed being a mother to her own children and many others throughout her life. She is survived by her daughters, Janette Powell (Lee) of Hallsboro, NC, Kelli Diehl (Daniel) of Wilmington, NC, Gracie Buffolino-Hill (Kendrick) of Bishopville, SC; grandchildren, Zana Thomas, Sky Fignan, Farrell Reed (Rachel), Eben Diehl, Kaya Diehl, Marcella Buffolino-Hill, Janiyah James; great-grandchildren, Farrin Reed, and Farrell Reed; sister, Marcia Boalen of Bishopville, SC; brother, Terry Bennett of Raleigh, NC; nieces and nephews, Yancy Bennett, Barbara Gilly (Brandon), Antonio Buffolino, Tracy Bennett, Justin Bennet. Also, a very special cousin, Mary Chaney (Gary). In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her Husband, Biagio "Pops" Buffolino; brother, Tony Bennett.

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Mrs. Karen Lee Buffolino

January 10, 1955 - September 10, 2024