Karen E. Gillespie, of Greenfield passed away at her home on Saturday, August 12, 2023, two weeks after her 70th birthday.  
Karen was born in Salzburg, Austria, the daughter  to her late parents Harrington and Lillian Gillespie.  
She attended Northfield Mount Hermon School, graduating in 1970.  She graduated from Northampton Junior College with an Associate Degree in Computer Science, followed by a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Biology from UMass, Amherst, in 1977. 
In her younger years, Karen enjoyed traveling and camping in the National Parks out West.  After retiring, she carried her love of nature by hiking local areas, in particular Barton’s Cove in Gill, MA and Mt. Toby in Montague, MA.
Karen is survived by her sister, Patricia, also of Greenfield. 
There will be a short ceremony of remembrance at a future date.
Donations in her memory may be made to Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home.  For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.