Karen Caplan

Karen Saralegui, Larsen, Caplan Passed away in her sleep, early Morning Wednesday January 11, 2023. She was born March 15, 1943 in Santa Barbara, CA to Maxine and Manual Silva, who divorced shortly after. Maxine married Bernard Saralegui, and they raised their eight children of which Karen was the oldest on Bernards family ranch just outside of Santa Barbara, CA. Karen graduated from Santa Ynez Valley High School in 1961. Shortly thereafter, she met one of her Best Friends older brother Adrian Larsen, when he came home from serving in the US Air Force. They were married February 1962 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, where they continued to attend, and Karen taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years. Karen was a licensed day care Provider for 10 years. The children and their families absolutely loved her! She was later even invited to some of those children’s weddings. She started working at Raytheon in 1981. In order to qualify for that job, she took classes for shorthand at S.B.C.C. In 1988, she and Adrian divorced. While working at Raytheon Karen Met Frank Caplan. They were married in 1992. They both retired that same year, bought an RV and traveled a lot over the next years, putting 75,000 miles on their RV, and seeing most of the United States. She volunteered for many years crocheting various items for the Unity Shop Knitters Group. She also crocheted blankets for each of her kids. For each of her grandchildren, she asked each of them, when they were old enough to know, what their favorite color was, then would make them one out of that color. She was very active for several years with the Red Hat Society, as well as the women’s group at the SB Elks Lodge. Karen was diagnosed with dimentia in 2019. Then in 2020 for her safety and well being, the extremely difficult decision was made for her to live in a Memory care facility. She was there for over two years. When The Memory care facility was no longer able to take care of all of her needs, she was moved to a hospice care facility on Monday morning January 9th 2023. Karen is preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Kathleen, and a brother, Kevin. She is survived by her husband Of 31 years, Frank Caplan, four sisters, Cheryl, Sandi, Joyce and Cindy. One brother, Mark, 3 half sisters, Debi, Valerie, and Sharon. Her daughters, Coreen, Deanna, and Julie. 3 stepdaughters, Ellen, Allison, and Jennifer. And one step son Michael. 4 grandsons, and one grandson who was waiting for her at Heavens gate when she arrived, and 2 granddaughters. 3 step-grandsons, and 3 step-grandaughters. 11 Great Grandchildren, cousins, neices and nephews as well. Karen was an Extraordinary, Wonderful woman who touched so very many lives, always helping those she could, she was an AMAZING Cook, and a LOT of gatherings were held at her home with tons of FANTASTIC Food. She loved fiercly and was truly loved by So Many! Those who were close to her and Loved By her, were extremely Blessed more than words can express!!! She is so heartily missed!!!

A celebration of life will be held Saturday March 18th at,10:30am, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 380 No. Fairview Ave Goleta, CA.