Karen Lorraine DeBolt Moutenot

CRANBURY, N.J. —Karen Lorraine DeBolt Moutenot, 68, of Cranbury, N.J., died peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, at the Elms at Cranbury, surrounded by family.

Born in Red Oak, Iowa, daughter of Robert E. DeBolt and Marjorie DeBolt, she was raised in Charles City, Iowa. She had lived in Cranbury, N.J. for the past 38 years.

At a very young age, Karen developed a love of nature and agriculture. A member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, a Masonic Youth Organization, she developed a strong foundation of faith.

She graduated from Charles City High School in 1966 and later attended Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota. At the age of 21, she set off for the friendly skies and became a flight attendant with TWA. Her base was out of LaGuardia, N.Y., where she made many lifelong friendships. It was through those friendships that would lead her to meet the love of her life, Andre ‘Andy’ Moutenot.

Married Oct. 10, 1970, they began married life in Edgewater, N.J. In 1973, with their first child Nicole on the way, Karen and Andy moved to East Windsor, their first home, and sixteen months later they welcomed their second child, Amy Eleanor Moutenot.

In 1978, they moved to Cranbury, N.J. In 1993, they purchased a house on Long Beach Island where they spent their summers boating, walking the beach and enjoying all the local seafood.

Karen did everything in life with love and passion. She excelled at painting, quilting, knitting, sewing and kindness. She co-authored a cookbook with renowned author/chef Anita Pritchard and was a member of Pine Shore Art Association. Whatever she did, she did with her whole heart. Her love of gourmet food led to the co-creation of a small group of friends dedicated to cooking and eating cuisine from around the world. The group, affectionately called PIGS, has been together for over 30 years.

Karen, a member of the Presbyterian Church of Cranbury was a ruling elder. She chaired the Buildings and Grounds for the church. She was an active member of the Cranbury Woman’s Club as well as a member of the Cranbury Historical Preservation Society. She was an active contributor to the Cranbury Library Foundation as well as the Princeton HealthCare System Foundation.

Karen was a lifelong traveler, taking trips with her family to Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, as well as across the United States. Along with her husband Andy, she was an active member of the Positive Earth Drivers Club, a vintage British sports car touring club.

Karen is survived by her husband Andre Moutenot; two daughters and a son-in-law, Nicole Girardet and husband, Benjamin Girardet and Amy Moutenot; two grandchildren, Margaret and Eleanor Girardet; sister, Marilyn Wilcke; and her mother, Marjorie DeBolt.

She was predeceased in death by her father, Robert E. DeBolt; brother, Robert G. DeBolt and sister, Patricia O’Banion.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, 22 South Main Street, Cranbury, N.J.

Cremation services were private.

Family and friends may gather on Friday, Feb, 26, 2016, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., at the A.S. Cole Funeral Home, 22 North Main Street, Cranbury, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mrs. Moutenot’s memory to: The Cranbury Public Library Foundation, 23 N. Main Street, Cranbury, N.J. 08512; Princeton HealthCare System Foundation, 3626 U.S. Route 1, Princeton, N.J. 08540; or the Breast Cancer Center at YWCA, 59 Paul Robeson Place, Princeton, NJ, 08540.