Karen Scannell

SCANNELL
With deep sadness, we announce that Karen Nan Scannell passed away on April 17, 2025. She left this world with the same fierce spirit, concern for others and integrity that she lived her life. Karen was born on February 16, 1961, in Philadelphia, as the eighth of nine siblings. She lived most of her 64 years in the Port Richmond neighborhood, attended Nativity BVM and graduated from St. Anne's Business School. She loved working in construction and retired from the United States Postal Service in 2021.

Karen will be remembered as an athlete of exceptional talent, and she made many of her closest friends through softball, soccer, flag football and other team sports. In her forties , Karen helped win the original National Women's Football League (now Association) inaugural championship in 2001, playing running back and defensive end for the original Philadelphia Liberty Belles. She later embraced rugged outdoor mountain biking and dirt bike riding. Karen was generous, kind and always willing to help her family and friends.

She is predeceased by her parents , Kathleen (nee Curran) and Harry Scannell and her siblings Kathleen Wilson Harmon, Patricia Vidra, Charles Scannell and Dennis Scannell.

Karen is survived by her life partner of 25 years, Laura Lanza, their son and great nephew Michael Scannell, and her devoted siblings and in-laws Gerald Scannell, Colleen Landers (Cliff), Maureen Szumski (Dennis), Shawn and Deana Scannell. She will be remembered with love by her precious nieces. nephews, their partners and children.

Relatives and friends are invited to her visitation Wednesday April 23 rd 9:30 AM at Nativity BVM Church 2535 E. Allegheny Ave. Phila., PA 19134. Funeral Mass 11:00 AM. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to: Project HOME, in Memory of Karen N. Scannell. (https://www.projecthome.org/about).