Karen Ruth Ping, age 59, of Belleville, Ill., born August 16, 1965 in Belleville to Richard E. Ping and Margie R. Ping, nee Steinberg, died Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at her residence with her family at her side.

Karen grew up in Swansea, Ill. in the Twilight Terrace neighborhood.  She was a kindhearted soul with her faith in Jesus Christ, and her love of poodles, animals, the St. Louis Cardinals, her friends and family.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of O'Fallon for most of her life and St. Matthew Church of Belleville in recent years.  She was diagnosed in 2022 with a glioblastoma brain tumor.   She fought the good fight for two years and eight months before passing.

Karen graduated from Belleville Township High School East in 1984.  She attended Southwest Illinois College.

Karen worked for Carafiol Furniture in O'Fallon, Grandpa Pidgeon's in Swansea, Value City Department Store in Swansea, and ended her career at Macy's in Fairview Heights, Ill.  She was a hard worker and known for receiving accolades from her managers and colleagues. She volunteered with the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

She is preceded in death by her father, Richard E. Ping, and her great niece, Hope Erhardt.

Surviving are her mother, Margie R. Ping, nee Steinberg, of Belleville, and her two sisters, Betty (James) Erhardt, nee Ping, of Belleville, and Amy Ping of Belleville; her two nephews, Robert (Marlena) Erhardt of Madison, Wisc. and Steven (Caitlyn) Erhardt of St. Mary's, Ga.; two great nephews, Theodore and Harrison Erhardt of St. Mary's, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Matthew Church's Missions or Joshua's Great Things Foundation. Online tributes may be shared at www.wfh-ofallon.com.

The family will receive family and friends from 9:30-11:00 am on Saturday, September 7, 2024 with the funeral service following at 11:00 am at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington, O'Fallon, Ill.  Pastor Bob Swickard will preside over the funeral service with burial at O'Fallon City Cemetery located on North Oak Street.