Karen Faye Mustacich

Born November, 1946, in Bellingham, WA and passed on December 21, 2025, in Bellingham, WA. At Hospice House with her loving husband and niece. In her younger years, Karen and her family lived in Day Creek, Washington until she was 4. At that time they moved to Baker Hwy and then to Bellingham. She attended Sunnyland school and the Whatcom Jr. High and graduated from Bellingham HS in 1964. After school she went to work at JJ Newberry's Snack Bar in Bellingham where she met Andy "Pete" Mustacich. She went to attend BVTI dental assisting program and once again ran into Pete on campus where he was attending surveying classes. They started dating in 1967 and became engaged in April of that year. Upon her graduation from BVTI in May of that year, she went on to work for several dental offices. In October of that year she and Pete were married and they celebrated their honeymoon in a 9x9 tent in hunting grounds in Eastern Washington. In 1973, she attended the University of Washington where she obtained her teaching degree and joined the Bellingham School Distrcit as well as the BVTI teaching Expanded Duties Dental class for 3 1/2 years. Eventually going to work with Dr. Wade DDS for 12 years. During that time Karen and Pete built a log home in Alger where both were EMT's and volunteer fire fighters. Pete worked for the city of Bellingham and Karen eventually retired after 23 years as a chairside assistant in the dental field. They eventually bought a place in Plain, Washington where they moved to, Pete was still working and commuted each Monday and Friday over Stevens pass. Karen kept busy with her antique shop there and volunteering with the Chelan County fire district auxiliary. She also wrote poetry in those times and became published in the Wenatchee World Paper. After Pete's retirement in 1996 they purchased an RV and traveled 14 Western states, many of those trips included their RV club HRRVC for 12 years. Eventually buying land in Idaho and moving there, where they became the State Officers and Assistant State managers in the RV club. They planned many wonderful RV Rallies. Karen loved to use her camera and documented these trips and writing about the rallies in the national magazine for their club. In 2000, while residing in Idaho, Karen was baptized and accepting her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On the move they went, back to Washington then to Oregon, Arizona and then Wyoming where they build a new home in each state. Eventually totaling 14 new homes over the years. Karen's was always an artist. Along with her love of horses and dogs, Karen painted, drew, wrote and made over 4000 pine needle baskets, enjoying this craft with both of her parents. She sol her art at many small markets where people from all over the world purchased her creations. While living in Wyoming, she enjoyed organizing craft sales for the Salt River Senior Center and the Western Wyoming Riflemen's Association. In 2020, Karen and Pete moved back to Lynden where they made their final home. In 2019 Karen was diagnosed with Aphasia and 3 years later dementia. During this time they attended many car shows, winning awards with their classic 1959 Thunderbird. Peter cared for Karen through her dementia for 6 years. Karen is survived by her husband Andy "Pete" Mustacich, their dog Orie who was always by her side, nieces Virginia Learned (Clay) and family of Sedro Woolley and Teresa Scott (Rusty and family of Snohomish county and many other relatives in Whatcom county and Olympia. Karen was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Margaret Hacker and her sister and brother in law Bob and Linda Ensley. Memorials can be made in Karen's name to Whatcom Hospice House - 2806 Douglas Ave, Bellingham WA 98225, or Day Creek Chapel's Quilt ministry - 31438 South Skagit Highway, Sedro Woolley, Washington, where Pete and Karen attended when they lived in Concrete. Services will be held at Greenacres Memorial Park on April 24, 2026, at 1:00 pm.

Karen Faye Mustacich

November 17, 1946 - December 21, 2025