Karen Renee Gaiter

Karen Renee Gaiter, 59, of Greensburg, transitioned to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, April 16, 2026. She was born July 21, 1966, in Greensburg, the daughter of Courtney A. and Barbara Allen Gaiter.

Karen graduated from Greensburg Salem High School in 1984, where she served as the Lion Mascot. She attended Howard University, where she was a sister of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and later worked in restaurant management at McDonald’s and Bob Evans. She then continued her education at Cheyney University, earning a degree in Recreational Leisure Science. She further pursued her studies, earning a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Geneva College and a Certificate in Education from Seton Hill University. Karen began her teaching career in Georgia, teaching early elementary grades, before relocating back home to teach upper elementary. She taught at McKee Elementary School in Jeannette, where she taught English Language Arts and served as a teacher leader, and she was selected for the 2024–2025 Teach Plus PA Equality Leadership Institute, focusing on improving teaching techniques and implementing them locally with anticipated success. In addition to teaching, she volunteered at Greensburg Salem athletic events, staffed concession stands and was a member of Berean Christian Church in Atlanta, GA. Karen’s greatest joy was time spent with her children, especially watching television together, with a particular fondness for Chinese dramas.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Rev. Willie and Mother Gertrude R. Allen, Joeseph and Martha Gaiter; and her aunts, Meredith Meade, Maryanne Gaiter and Sandra Jean Barrett (Frank).

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her children, Ethan and Kayla McMichael and their father, Will; siblings, Courney A. Gaiter II, Pebbles Davis (Frank), and Joeseph Gaiter (Tiffinay); her aunts Janice Allen, Evangelist Wanda Allen (Rev. Rogers Wright), Sharon Green (Herman) and Josephine Robinson (Herman); her uncles Ronald and Joseph Gaiter; a host of cousins, nieces and nephews; coworkers of McKee Elementary School; special friends, Clifford Roane, Deborah Revenell, Tanya Howell and Minister Terri Meadows; and her faithful companion, Rue.

Relatives and friends of Karen will be received Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 3 p.m. until the time of funeral service at 6:30 p.m. in the Clement L. Pantalone Funeral Home, Inc., 409 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA 15601 724-837-0020.

Private inurnment will be in St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to her family to go towards the educational support of her children.

The family would like to offer special thanks to the staff of McKee, AHN, Presby and Hillman Center along with Mike at Amedysis Hospice.

Karen’s family has entrusted her care to the Pantalone Funeral Home Inc., Greensburg. For online condolences / directions, visit us at pantalone.com. Natale N. Pantalone, supervisor.