Donovan Catholic Theatre Teacher Brought 'Light, Joy, And Hope'

TOMS RIVER, NJ — She was the kind of teacher who makes impressions on the lives of her students, inspiring them to reach higher. She was the kind of friend whose hugs and smiles and laughter uplifted them on tough days. She was a wife and mother and sister whose imprint on their world will never fade.

Karin Mary Krenek, the theatre teacher and drama director at Donovan Catholic High School, died Friday, May 18. In her obituary on the Carmona-Bolen Home for Funerals website, it referred to her as "always 'age 39.' ”

She had been a teacher at Donovan Catholic for years, with her focus on its theatre program, where "she became 'Mama Krenek' to countless students, onstage and off, reminding all those she knew that they were valued, cherished, and loved, always loved," her family said.

"She was the BEST," said JoAnn D'Anton, the marketing and media director for Donovan Catholic. "She was an inspiration to all who knew her."

"Karin knew the power of the arts, and she used the arts to honor people, to heal people and to build community," D'Anton said in a post on the Donovan Catholic Facebook page announcing her death. "EVERYONE was welcome in Karin's productions because she truly believed that every child of God had something unique and important to contribute."

At a Mass on Saturday evening at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, a number of Mrs. Krenek's former students attended wearing T-shirts that commemorated the many theatrical productions she directed. And a group of her students who gathered to remember her on Friday took video as they sang bits from various productions.

"There was no other way for us to honor her that night," one student wrote on the video titled simply "Karin's alumni." "We knew she would be so upset with us if we just sat around in silence, so we all did the one thing she taught us to do: perform." (See it below.)

It wasn't just the stage and the theatre classes where Mrs. Krenek connected with students and adults, however.

"Karin's home in the learning commons was a haven for young and old alike who needed a listening ear and an open heart," D'Anton wrote. Krenek "always had time to laugh with, to cry with and to pray with students in need."

"Karin was someone who never had an unkind word to say and who always brought light and joy and hope to those who crossed her path," D'Anton wrote.

The Brick Community Children's Theatre posted a message on Facebook saying, "BCCT is heart broken to learn of the passing of Mrs Karin Krenek. Our hearts go out to the Krenek family, and all who knew her as a friend, teacher and theatre director. A caring, dedicated woman with an enormous heart, we will always remember Karin with the warmest and fondest of memories."

Karin Krenek was born in Elizabeth to William and Dorothy McKechnie, the oldest of three children, her obituary said. She and her husband, Frank Charles Krenek, married in July 1980, and have four children: Jessica Witty; Michael; Christian; and Tyler, "forever her proudest achievement, and her greatest sources of joy."

In addition to theatre, she taught ESL (English as a Second Language) and had also taught science and English earlier in her career, her obituary said.

She is survived by her mother, Dorothy; her husband, Frank; daughter (and PhD) Jessica and son-in-law Tommy Witty; sons Michael, Christian, and Tyler; her sister Lauren and brother-in-law John Mazur; brother Billy and sister-in-law Sue McKechnie; and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandnephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations have been requested in her name to Donovan Catholic Scholarships, which will be establishing a scholarship in her memory, the obituary says.

The visitation will be on Wednesday, May 23, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Hooper Avenue, Toms River. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 24, at the church, with repast to follow at Donovan Catholic High School.

"Our communities have been blessed by Karin Krenek's presence. May we keep her memory alive by living as she did," D'Anton wrote.

Contact Donovan Catholic for information on donating to the scholarship.

Karin Krenek photo by JoAnn D'Anton, published with permission