Obituary of Karen Hughes

Karen was born in Rockville Centre, New York to Catherine Hemberger (nee Mack, Stuart, FL) and the late John Hemberger, and grew up in Bedford, New York with her two brothers, Jack (Stuart, FL) and Stephen (Woodstock, NY) and her twin and life long friend, Laura (Cashmore, Kansas City, MO). She graduated from Byram Hills High School in 1976 and UMass Amherst in 1980. Karen married John Hughes, a Naval Aviator and now a pilot with American Airlines, son of Silvia (nee Cimmino, Stuart, FL) and the late Paul Hughes. Karen was the loving mother of Christen Halley Hughes, an oncology nurse at UNC Cancer Center and James Raymond Hughes, a freshman lacrosse player at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Va.

Karen was a very accomplished gymnast who began practicing gymnastics with her sister Laura in their back yard at the age of 11. Within a few years the twins had gone on to become All County standouts on their high school team as well as nationally recognized gymnasts. Karen became an Elite Gymnast in 1975 and was nationally ranked in the top 40. Karen trained at the Olympic level in New Haven, Connecticut under three-time Olympian Muriel Grossfeld. She was awarded a full scholarship to UMass Amherst and competed on their NCAA National team from 1977 to 1981, where she was team captain and a collegiate All-American athlete.

After college, Karen went on to coach and teach gymnastics, first at Westchester Gymnastic School from 1982 to 1988, then as gymnastics Director for Pensacola Junior College. In 1988 Karen established the Artistic Gymnastics School in Raleigh. For the next 23 years she built a legacy teaching, coaching and mentoring. She taught excellence in gymnastics and a healthy, balanced and enjoyable approach to the sport. Through her work, she nurtured creativity, fun, and a lifelong enjoyment of physical fitness for thousands of girls. She was greatly loved by her students, athletes and their families.

Karen was a generous contributor to her community. For many years she volunteered at Catholic Charities Outreach through Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh and worked tirelessly for the International Special Olympics Gymnastics program, including acting as Director of the North Carolina Special Olympics gymnastics event in 1999. She was the innovator of North Carolina high school gymnastics for the Wake, Durham and Johnston counties.

Karen led a creative and artistic life, and enjoyed crafts and creating beautiful quilts, needlepoint, embroidery, and mosaic works. She excelled at home design and renovation.

Karen will be remembered by all who love her for her grace, kindness, generosity, as well her high energy and ability to accomplish whatever she set her mind to do. Karen is survived by her husband, daughter, son, mother, sister, two brothers, mother-in-law, her in-laws Bill Cashmore, Christopher Hughes, Brian and Susan Hughes, and Paul and Teresa Hughes and her seven nieces and nephews.

Services and a celebration of life will be held Friday, March 16th at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, at 5:30pm, 2718 Overbrook Dr., Raleigh NC.