Karen Lee Abbondante-Bava, 68, of Manalapan, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 15, surrounded by her family.

Karen was born in Brooklyn, NY to the late Philomena “Phyllis” and Carmine “Sonny” Abbondante. She was raised in Brooklyn and then in Staten Island with her brother Thomas, who she loved dearly.

Karen graduated from Saint Joseph by the Sea High School.  After high school, Karen went on to St. John’s University and received her Law Degree from Brooklyn Law School.  She worked as an attorney with the NYC Housing Authority, before opening her own practice on Staten Island.  She volunteered as a Civil Court arbitrator and served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Taxi and Limousine Commission in New York City.

Karen and her husband raised their children on Staten Island, and in 1999, settled in Manalapan, New Jersey where they continued to raise their family. She was a proud “soccer mom” who loved fiercely and unapologetically. Karen flourished most when she was with her family. She lit up when she spent time surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She found joy in the joy of others. Karen loved to throw a good party with her cousins and friends, filled with laughter, story telling, and plenty of good food.

Karen is survived by her husband, John Bava, six children, Caralee and her husband Adam Grygo of Freehold, Daniel and his wife Jessica Bava of Manalapan, Hayley and her husband Jesse Nero of Queens, NY, Dr. Hannah Bava of NYC, Julia Eve Bava of Manalapan, and Matthew John Bava of Manalapan, six grandchildren Stella, Henryk, Cambria, Charlotte, Theodore, and Wes, five nieces and nephews Lisa, Robert, Thomas, Serena, and Dylan, and many loving cousins and close friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 19 from 4pm – 8pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel. A Funeral Home Service will be offered on Thursday, November 20 at 11am. Entombment will follow at Holmdel Cemetery & Mausoleum, Holmdel.

In lieu of traditional remembrances, Karen’s family asks with gratitude that donations in her memory be made to either Memorial Sloan Kettering (www.mskcc.org), St. Jude Children’s Hospital (www.StJude.org), or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).

For messages of condolence, or to share a favorite memory of Karen, please visit her page of tribute at www.HolmdelFuneralHome.com.