Karen Allen Berube died peacefully at home in Edgartown on Dec. 15 with family and friends. She was 63.

She was born in Oak Bluffs in January of 1950. She attended the Edgartown Elementary School until the second grade when she moved to Tisbury and attended Tisbury Elementary School. She graduated from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in the class of 1968. After graduating, she went to Connecticut for a couple of years and then to Boynton Beach, Fla., for nine years. She returned to the Vineyard in 1981 and married David Berube in 1982. They recently celebrated their 31st anniversary.

Karen started working at age 14 as a waitress in the Tisbury bowling alley. She was a waitress throughout her life at many Island restaurants such as the Home Port, Square Rigger and the Beach Plum Inn. Karen rarely worked only one job at a time. While working as a waitress, she also did scalloping, clamming, worked as a home health aide and with newspaper delivery. She had a strong work ethic and took pride in doing every job well.

Karen was one of those rare individuals who genuinely cared about others. She was always smiling and upbeat. If she knew that you were in need, she would find a way to help. She loved giving gifts and would lavishly shower gifts on friends and family. She never hesitated to make a new friend. She was one of the most loyal friends anyone could have, even if you had not seen each other for many years.

Karen was a caring aunt and surrogate mother to her many nieces and nephews. She and David raised their nephew Scott as their son. Karen’s generosity did not end with people. She was equally loyal and generous to her many animals.

She had many varied interests. She was active in the AA program working as manager of one of the Vineyard Houses. She enjoyed playing tennis, going to the beach and swimming, shopping for a bargain and spending time with friends.

She was predeceased by her father, Albert Allen Jr., her mother, Eileen Blankenship Allen, her brother in law Robert Kennan and his sons Ronald, William and Eric, and her niece, Brenda Dube. She is survived by her husband David and her nephew Scott; her sisters Judy Kennan and Joyce Allen; her brothers Robert Allen and Albert (Buddy) Allen 3rd; her aunts Agnes Luce, Roberta Morgan and her husband Jim, and Elizabeth Allen; her uncle Hector Asselin, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; her dog Bella and her cats Popcorn, Butterfly, Lizbug and Noah.

A funeral service was held at Trinity Church in Oak Bluffs on Dec. 21 and was officiated by the Rev. Rich Rego, followed by interment at the New West Side Cemetery in Edgartown.

Anyone who would like to make a donation in Karen’s memory is requested by the family to send donations to Hope Health Hospice, P.O. Box 4188, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568; Vineyard House, P.O. Box 4599, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568; or Martha’s Vineyard Support Group, P.O. Box 2214, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.