Adjunct faculty member Karen Marie Pedersen, 49, passed away the morning of March 3.

She leaves behind her husband Jaime and her son Adam.
Pedersen, an instructor of business, had been a GCC faculty member for the past five years, when she became ill at the end of the Fall Semester due to cancer.

“We all liked her really, really well and we’re going to miss her a lot,” said Linda Serra, Business Division Chair. “We’re so fond of her 10 year-old-son too.”

Pedersen taught Business Administration: 101, Introduction to Business, 152, Oral Management Communication and her main teaching assignment was 106, Written Business Communication.

“She was doing well,” said Serra. “She was in the rehab section at Adventist hospital. They had moved her there from the USC Medical Center, so she thought she was doing better. Unfortunately, she just collapsed and went into a coma.”

According to Serra, “It was quite a shock. She was very hopeful and optimistic that the chemotherapy was working well. It all happened so quickly.”

Services are private and are being held today.

“In lieu of flowers, donations to the Glendale Boy Scout Troop #118/Verdugo Hills Council are respectfully requested,” according to the Glendale News Press.

Anyone wishing to send their condolences to the Pedersen family can either drop something off in SR 311 or e-mail [email protected]. Serra will print it and send it to the family.