Karen E. McAfee-Bromley

Obituary

Karen E. McAfee-Bromley, 62, of New Bedford, passed away Friday, November 3, 2017, at St. Luke's Hospital. Although in a period of declining health from Alzheimer's and dementia, her death was unexpected. She was the wife of Robert C. Bromley, and they would have celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary on December 27th. They met while members of the City of New Bedford's Olmsted Restoration Committee for Buttonwood Park in 1983.

Born in New Bedford, daughter of the late Rev. (Capt.) William R. McAfee, Sr. and Norma I. (Ward) McAfee, she was a lifelong resident of the city and member of the People's Christian Church.

Karen graduated from the University of New Hampshire and served as Head Zookeeper at the Buttonwood Park Zoo for 26 years and later as a sales representative in a local pet store. Karen was a 31-year member of Battery B 1st RI Light Artillery and member of the Rhode Island State Militia and was often assisting her husband at the Fort Taber Military Museum. She was a member of Zenas R. Bliss, Camp 12 Auxiliary, past .president of the Department of Rhode Island Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans, a past member of the New Bedford Fire Museum, Buttonwood Park Zoological Society, and Wampanoag Kennel Club.

She will be remembered by all for her love and compassion for her many pets.

Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Hannah E. R. Bromley of New Bedford; her step mother Sylvia L. McAfee; step-siblings Cheryl Ryan, Jack, Bruce, Brian, Barry and Glenn Booker; brothers-in-law James V. Henry and his wife Delores of Fairhaven, and Henry Bromley of North Carolina; sisters-in-law, Martha McAfee of Fairhaven, Eileen Teixeira of New Bedford, Eleanor Goodspeed of Shapleigh, ME, and Helen Ashley of Florida; her Aunt and Uncle, Martha and Joseph Frade of New Bedford, over 100 nieces and nephews, and several cousins. Karen was the mother to the late Luke W. C. Bromley, sister to the late William R. "Bucky" McAfee, Jr., and sister-in-law to the late George R. Bromley, Jr. and Marilyn Dellinger.

A Memorial celebration of her life will be on Sunday, December10, 2017, at 2:00 PM, at the Christian Fellowship Center, 822 Church Street, New Bedford. Following the service a remembrance dinner will occur on site and everyone is encouraged to bring food to share. Interment will occur later in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven.