Karen Ann (Mcdonnell) Stapleton

Karen Ann (McDonnell) Stapleton, of Weymouth, passed away in her home on January 5, 2019. She was 70.

Beloved wife of Thomas C. Stapleton.

Loving sister of Joseph, James, Jean, and Paula.

Karen was a strong independent woman who made her way in the world of science. She worked 28 years as a full-time Research Scientist for Polaroid Corporation while simultaneously pursuing her undergraduate degree and her Masters Degree in Chemistry from Boston College.

Her favorite accomplishments were the invention of novel liquid crystal polymeric circular polarizer and the development of a more cost-effective magenta dye for the Company’s instant photograph. She worked for the Vice President and Director of Chemical Research, Howard G. Rogers, for many years. After Polaroid she worked for several years at Paratek Pharmaceuticals in research to revitalize the uses of Tetracycline.She traveled extensively in Europe and explored many islands as near as the Boston Harbor and as far as French Polynesia. Her friends and relatives enjoyed her excellent story-telling and kind warm nature. She will be greatly missed by her husband and all who loved her.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Friday 4-7 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home NORTH WEYMOUTH at 40 Sea Street (off Route 3A – Bicknell Square). Relatives and friends will gather in the funeral home at 9 AM on Saturday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Jerome Church, Weymouth at 10:30 AM. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 101 Columbian Street, Weymouth MA, 02190

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to South Shore Health System Foundation, 55 Fogg Road, Weymouth, MA 02190, St. Joseph’s Indian School, Chamberlain, SD www.stjo.org or to Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 Eighteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.