Kara Dare Bruno Earp

September 20, 1984 – November 1, 2026

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Kara possessed a remarkable ability to make people laugh, frequently at times when laughing was probably not socially acceptable.

Beloved Wife, MamaNi, Punk Anarchist, Poet, Trekkie, Whovian, and Living Embodiment of the Phrase “Age of the Geek”

On November 1, 2026, Kara Dare Bruno Earp boldly went where no one has gone before. While her family respects her commitment to exploring strange new worlds, they would like to formally register a complaint with the universe regarding her premature departure. Frankly, the customer service has been absolute shit.

Kara was a wife, a MamaNi, a daughter, a friend, and a wonderfully inappropriate human being whose sense of humor was occasionally questionable but always appreciated by the right audience. She possessed a remarkable ability to make people laugh, frequently at times when laughing was probably not socially acceptable.

Born on September 20, 1984, in Hickory, North Carolina, Kara was raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where she developed the rebellious spirit of a punk anarchist, a healthy distrust of authority, and absolutely no intention of quietly conforming to anyone's expectations. She believed in questioning the establishment, challenging the status quo, and occasionally telling the entire system to fuck off. She dreamed of a better world while remaining painfully aware that humanity was doing a spectacularly shitty job of creating one.

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Kara understood that strength wasn't simply about being powerful. It was about compassion, courage, and choosing to be yourself.

Kara went on to earn her bachelor's degree from Western Carolina University, where she gained far more than an education. It was there that she met her college roommate, Daniel Jones, who would become one of her closest friends and the brother she found along the way. What began as two college students sharing a living space grew into a lifelong bond, proving that sometimes the family you choose is just as important as the family you're born into. And, knowing Kara, Daniel probably has enough stories from those college years to make at least a few people deeply uncomfortable at a family gathering.

Perhaps that's why Kara found herself so at home among the stars. An unapologetic science fiction nerd, she loved Star Trek and Doctor Who. Captain Jean-Luc Picard was, and always will be, her Captain. Which is somewhat ironic for a woman who didn't particularly care for authority, but apparently commanding the USS Enterprise earned you an exception.

Her favorite Doctor was the Fourth Doctor, portrayed by Tom Baker, proving she had excellent taste in eccentric, scarf-wearing Time Lords. However, when it came to introducing Bekki to Doctor Who, Kara knew exactly what she was doing. She shamelessly used the undeniable charm of David Tennant's Tenth Doctor to lure her unsuspecting wife into the Whoniverse. What began as a carefully orchestrated act of nerdy manipulation turned into a shared obsession so strong that the two eventually had a Doctor Who-themed wedding. Because apparently, a traditional wedding simply wasn't nerdy enough for these two.

Their love story was proof that you don't need a TARDIS to find your person. Sometimes, against all odds, you find someone who makes even an ordinary life feel like the greatest adventure in all of time and space.

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Her family acknowledges that Kara's departure was neither requested nor approved. In fact, management is extremely dissatisfied with the entire situation.

Beneath Kara's sharp wit, rebellious spirit, and impressive collection of sarcastic remarks was a deeply thoughtful and creative soul. She loved writing, especially poetry, using words to untangle the complicated emotions that weren't always easy to express out loud. For someone who could tell the world exactly where to shove its expectations, she also understood that sometimes the most powerful thing you could do was sit quietly with a pen and let your heart speak. Her poetry was another way she made sense of the world, one carefully chosen word at a time.

Kara also held a special place in her heart for Kara Zor-El, better known to the world as Supergirl. Her admiration for the character ran so deep that she chose Kara as her own first name. And really, what better namesake for a woman who believed in being unapologetically herself? Like her favorite Kryptonian, Kara understood that strength wasn't simply about being powerful. It was about compassion, courage, and choosing to be yourself, even when the world made that difficult. She didn't need a cape to be extraordinary, although her family suspects she would have looked pretty damn good in one.

Of all the roles Kara held throughout her life, being MamaNi to Cameron and Amelia was among the ones she treasured most. She loved her children fiercely, wholeheartedly, and without reservation. She was endlessly proud of the people they were becoming and wanted nothing more than for them to grow up knowing they were loved, accepted, and free to be exactly who they were. Kara understood the importance of being seen and loved for your authentic self, and she wanted that same freedom and happiness for her children. She shared with them her humor, her curiosity, and her deep love of music, particularly their all-time favorite band, Linkin Park. And, of course, probably more than a few jokes that were wildly inappropriate for their ages. Her love for Cameron and Amelia was never something they had to earn. It was simply theirs, unconditionally and forever.

Kara was loved beyond measure by her wife, Bekki, and their two children, Cameron and Amelia. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, chaos, and the kind of ridiculous conversations that probably would have concerned an unsuspecting outsider.

Her family would like to acknowledge that Kara's departure was neither requested nor approved. In fact, management is extremely dissatisfied with the entire situation and intends to file a strongly worded complaint.

Although cancer may have brought her journey on Earth to an end, it never defined who she was. She was so much more than a diagnosis. She was laughter in difficult moments, love in its most genuine form, and proof that even when life is spectacularly unfair, there's still room for a wildly inappropriate joke.

Kara leaves behind her beloved wife, Bekki (Bruno) Earp; their son, Cameron Earp; their daughter, Amelia Earp; and their feline overlords, Ollie and Theo, who will undoubtedly continue ruling the household with absolutely no regard for human authority.

She is also survived by her father, Charles Earp of Worcester, MA; her father-in-law, Tom Bruno, and his wife, Cathy Bruno, of Cambridge, VT; her mother-in-law, Katherine Bruno of Newport, VT; her brother-in-law, Tom Bruno, his wife, Schushona, and their children, Illiana, Thomas, and Deacon, of Newport, VT; her sister-in-law, Rachel Bruno of Columbus, OH; her cousin, Jon Hendrix, and his family, of Stallings, NC; and her chosen brother and lifelong best friend, Daniel Jones of Winston-Salem, NC.

Kara was preceded in death by her mother, Debra (Campbell) Earp; her bonus mom, Sarah Bruno; and her beloved dog, Neo, who has presumably already greeted her on the other side, tail wagging and wondering what the hell took her so long.

In keeping with Kara's wonderfully unconventional spirit, her family will forgo a traditional memorial service and instead hold a Celebration of Life in Vermont, one of her favorite places in the world (second only, of course, to being with her love, Bekki).

Kara's love for Vermont went far beyond its mountains, scenery, and natural beauty. It was where Bekki grew up, and where the family Kara gained through marriage welcomed her with open arms. When Kara came out and began living openly as the woman she had always been, Bekki's family embraced her with love, acceptance, and the simple understanding that she deserved to be celebrated for exactly who she was.

Vermont wasn't just a place Kara loved to visit. It was a place where she knew she belonged. And it is only fitting that the people who loved her will gather there to celebrate a woman who lived, loved, and ultimately became unapologetically herself.

Details regarding Kara's Celebration of Life will be shared with family and friends when arrangements are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Kara's memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in the hope that continued research and advances in cancer treatment will help other families have more time with the people they love.

Memorial donations: "Dana-Farber Cancer Institute – Tribute and Memorial Gifts"

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Kara leaves behind a family who will love her for the rest of their lives, countless memories, and an absolutely unacceptable amount of unfinished business.

In lieu of trying to find the perfect words, her family asks that you honor Kara by loving unapologetically, embracing your weirdness, laughing at inappropriate moments, and never passing up the opportunity to make a terrible dad joke.

Kara wasn't just Bekki's wife. She was her person, her greatest adventure, and the love of her life. To Bekki, she was affectionately known as "Karamia," a nickname Kara absolutely adored. And to Kara, Bekki was her "Bow," short for Rainbow, and her "Knight in Shining Softness." It was a title earned not through grand gestures or shining armor, but through a fierce, unwavering love. Bekki stood beside Kara, fought for her, protected her, and reminded her, especially on the days when she struggled to see it herself, that she was a beautiful, extraordinary woman worthy of every bit of love she received. Their time together was far too short, but the love they shared was big enough to last beyond a lifetime.

Live long and prosper, Kara.

And wherever you've boldly gone, we hope there's good Wi-Fi, unlimited Star Trek, and people who appreciate your quick wit.

We love you. Always. 💜