New Castle - Karen R. (Shorts) Kern, 79, of East Moody Avenue, died Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at UPMC Jameson Hospital in New Castle.

She was born June 26, 1947, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late Harry and Anna Rita (Bullian) Shorts.

She married Gerald F. Kern on Jan. 10, 1998. He survives at home.

She was a member of Holy Spirit Parish-St. Joseph.

Karen worked at PARC as a supervisor, retiring after 23 years.

She is a graduate of Youngstown State University, with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in English.

She enjoyed dancing with her husband, and they were the first couple to participate in the cancer society's Dancing With The Stars.

Karen was also active in the New Castle Playhouse and The Red Barn Theater, and as she got older, she made costumes for the plays at both locations. She loved buying shoes and taking care of the families' many children.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two brothers, Claude Shorts and his wife, Jodi, of Poland, Ohio, and Joseph Shorts and his wife, Sue, of Bradenton, Florida; one sister, Sandy Bara and her husband, Randy, of New Castle; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Bonnie Fraser.

Visitation will be 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 5, 2026, at the William F. & Roger M. DeCarbo Funeral Home, 926 Cunningham Ave. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2026, at Holy Spirit Parish-St. Vitus Church. Father Aaron Kriss will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery

On-line condolences can be offered at www.williamrogerdecarbo.com.