Reverend Karen P. (Ret.) Ohrt

OHRT – Reverend Karen P., (Ret.) 75, of Hunt’s Point, Queens County, passed away on Friday, April 8, 2022.
Born in Liverpool, NS, Karen was a daughter of the late Erlin and Wilhelmina (Fralic) Conrad.
Karen grew up in Beach Meadows, Queens County, but left home after high school to go to Ontario. She married a young military office, had two children in Ottawa, ON, the next in Prince George, BC, and the last in Halifax, NS. By 1980, and after a divorce, she returned to Beach Meadows to raise her children as a single mother. She worked hard, often working two jobs at the same time, until 1993. Then, with three children away at university and the youngest almost through high school, Sears and H&R Block both closed their Liverpool locations. Suddenly, without any jobs, Karen was left struggling with what to do now.
From her youth, she had been an active volunteer at church, and this continued as she moved across the country while married. Now, in 1993, at age 47, she found her way back. She went to Mount St Vincent University, where her sister was getting her Masters degree, and got her BA so that she could go to the Atlantic School of Theology. Part of that degree was an 8-month internship. Karen went to Sault Ste. Marie, where she was the first woman clergy that church had ever had. She spent half of her internship in the church and half as the nursing home chaplain.
In May 2000, at 54 and in front of her parents, siblings, and children, Karen was ordained as a minister in the United Church of Canada. The church placed her close to home in the Petite Riviere Pastoral Charge, where she had a flock of six churches. She preached three times every Sunday, morning, noon, and evening. She loved every opportunity to minister, but one of her favourite services each year was the Blessing of the Animals. Over the years, that service included cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens, at least one horse, several goats, and a hamster. She petted & blessed every last one with a smile on her face and a cowboy hat on her head.
Karen’s health had always been a challenge that she met and overcame. While at university in the mid-90’s, Karen had breast cancer and then kidney cancer. During her time in Petite, she had a knee replaced. In 2010, she retired due to disability and moved to Liverpool.
In 2012, she returned to the pulpit at Wesley United Church in Hunts Point, leading special services that required an ordained minister. In 2014, she became their pulpit supply minister. In 2017, she moved for the last time, making her home in Hunts Point, where she lived with her cat, Niki, and hedgehog, Spiny Norman.
In 2021, the breast cancer returned. The surgery appeared to be successful, but this time the cancer was more aggressive and, combined with other health challenges, the stress on her body was too much. She passed peacefully, in her sleep and at home with family.
Karen is survived by her daughters Danielle Baines of Lunenburg, NS; Suzanne Ohrt of Chamonix, FR.; her sons Jeffrey of Liverpool, NS and John Paul (Katherine) Conrad of Blackfalds, AB. Her grandchildren Madison Baines, Alexander and Claire Conrad. Her sister Rosanne Conrad Williams (Larry Williams) of Greenfield and her brother Dennis (Tammy Kennedy) of Beach Meadows.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Chandlers’ Funeral Home, Liverpool, NS. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date. No flowers by request, donations to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made to www.chandlersfuneral.com