Karen (O'Brien) Andreoli

Karen C. (O’Brien) Andreoli, 66, a longtime resident of Shrewsbury and Harwich Port, passed away on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, surrounded by the family she loved. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister.

Born in Melrose to Francis C. and Claire (Sliney) O’Brien, Karen grew up in Brockton and Reading. She attended Northeastern and Wheelock College before beginning a career as a professional fashion model in New York City with Ford Models. In 1983, she met John Andreoli, and they were married on May 30th, 1987, at Our Lady of Grace Church in South Chatham on Cape Cod. Over the next 39 years, they built a life centered on faith, family, and devotion in Shrewsbury, on Cape Cod, and in Florida.

Karen is survived by her devoted husband and best friend, John Andreoli; her children, John F. Andreoli and his wife, Cara, of Boston, and Kathryn Andreoli and her husband, Neal, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina; her beloved grandchildren, Claire Howard and John F. “L J” Andreoli, Jr. In addition She also leaves her sisters, Katherine Bard and her husband, Paul, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Kelly Gottlick of Madison, Connecticut, and Kristine Reinhart of Amelia Island, Florida; her brother, Kevin O’Brien of Nashua, New Hampshire; her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Susan and William “Billy” Feraco, Elizabeth and Mark Smiley, James and Leslie Andreoli, and AJ and Christina Andreoli; extended family members Gordon and Denise Lockbaum, Jack and Mary Ross; her close uncle, Roy Nickerson of Florida; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Karen was raised in a sports-loving family and remained an enthusiastic baseball fan throughout her life. Her father coached college baseball at MIT, where Francis C. O’Brien Field was dedicated in his honor. She was especially proud of her son John’s college and professional baseball career and treasured being in Oakland, California, for his major league debut with the Seattle Mariners. Karen and John were members of Worcester Country Club and Eastward Ho! Country Club. She also enjoyed following St. John’s football, where her husband served as head coach for 19 years, and cherished the time they spent together on Cape Cod in Harwich Port. Above all, Karen took the greatest pride in being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her happiest moments were those spent with her family in Shrewsbury, on the Cape, and in Florida. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, especially boat rides through Chatham and hosting cookouts at her home in Harwich Port. Karen had a generous heart, a warm smile, and a gift for making friends wherever she went.

Friends and relatives are invited to gather for calling hours, Tuesday, May 26th from 4 pm to 7 pm in THE MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St. Her funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, May 27th from the funeral home with a procession to St Mary’s Church, 640 Main St Shrewsbury where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am.

Friends and relatives on Cape Cod are invited to Karen's Cape funeral, Thursday, May 28th at 11 am in The Holy Redeemer Church, 67 Highland Ave, Chatham.  Burial will follow in Mt Pleasant Cemetery, 95 South St. Harwich.   In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Karen’s memory to Saint John’s High School, 378 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA, 01545. https://www.stjohnshigh.org/give

The Andreoli family would like to express gratitude to the UMass-Memorial 3rd Floor and Cardiac ICU units, for the care, comfort and compassion they provided to Karen.