KarenJo Pandone

Karen Jo Pandone (KarenJo) was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 1, 1954. Her story began on September 13, 1954, when Joe and Rose Milantoni welcomed her into their hearts and home. It was her “Gotcha!” day. As a young girl Karen was surrounded by love. She grew up in Allen Park, Michigan where she graduated from Allen Park High School and later attended Henry Ford Community College.

While her immediate family was small, she had a large extended family, that showered her with love- the Cotellesse and Milantoni families, and a close relationship with many of the families in the Church. She had an interesting childhood moving multiple times. Her parents were very involved in missionary work among the Native Americans and moved to service the Muncey Mission on the reservation in Canada, and the San Carlos Mission on the reservation in Arizona. Karen grew up with excellent examples of service to The Church of Jesus Christ and the communities she lived in.

KarenJo worked at Michigan Bell as a Staff Supervisor and computer programmer for many years. Following, she also worked as a Legal Executive Secretary for Wayne County Airport where she interacted with the Governor and other leaders of the state, and as legal clerical support for Williams Acosta among other positions.

While she took pride in her positions in the world, her work for The Church of Jesus Christ was her passion. She held many offices including, Executive Secretary to the General Church, secretary on branch and region levels, talented writer for the Blog and Gospel News, SAPP committee, GMBA registration, support for the NAOC, and positions in Ladies Uplift Circle, Sunday School and MBA. She was the definition of a devoted, hardworking and very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ. You could not stop her from volunteering! She was baptized in 1968 at the age of 14 at a GMBA campout and a dedicated member for 57 years.

Not only was she a good example, but she encouraged others and would bring young people to conferences, campouts and events. She also supported the young people by keeping in touch with them on a regular basis, attending their sporting events and teaching them how to be active, hardworking members.

KarenJo met Michael at a GMBA Campout in 1991. Brother Doug Obradovich paired married couples together to teach seminars at that campout. KarenJo and Michael kept coming to his mind even though they weren’t even a couple yet, but he threw them together to teach a seminar. Brother Wayne Martorana also had a dream where he saw KarenJo and Michael getting married even before this campout and told Brother Don Pandone, Michael’s father. They quickly became a couple following campout.

Michael moved from Ohio to Michigan to live near KarenJo. They were married on November 27, 1992. Every year for Valentine’s Day, Michael would give her a card each day of the week preceding Valentines Day. She has kept every single one of every card he has given her. KarenJo was an avid Michigan Football fan but supportive of Michaels love of Ohio State Football. She flew a half Michigan half Ohio State flag in front of their home.

Together they traveled to India on missionary work where she fell in love with the children in the Saved by Grace Orphanage where she later served as an administrator for the Orphanage state side.

KarenJo had a unique and big personality. She spoke her mind! She was interested in people and their lives and was always in the know. If you wanted to know anything about anyone, KarenJo was the one to call! She was also the person to call when you needed prayer or assistance. She would be there for you and pour out her heart to God on your behalf.

Micheal and KarenJo were not able to have children. Karen miscarried five babies. When she miscarried for the first time, she had a dream that she was standing waist deep in water. After she was pulled out, she saw her father, Brother Joe Milantoni. He said, “Your baby is fine.” She has been reunited with her babies now. She had a soft spot for her pups. Sandy was a rescue and a valued member of the family. When KarenJo and Michael lost their beloved pets Buster and Sam, she prayed about another pup. As she passed the animal shelter, she went in to check to see what was available. They asked what she was looking for and they found Sandy in foster care. Sandy became family!

As her mother Rose aged, KarenJo and Michael welcomed her into her home, building an apartment for her on to her house so that she could be close by. Although she was not well, KarenJo planned a 100th birthday party for her last year where family and friends came from all over the country to see Rose but also in respect and love for Karen.

Her favorite hobby was crocheting. She made numerous blankets for friends and for everyone she knew that was having a baby. She also collected Precious Moments and had over 100. She remembered who gave her each and every one. We know that’s true because Michael tested her numerous times!

Karen lived by two simple rules: Every friend became family. Every child or young person was treated as her own. She loved deeply!

In 2007 Karen was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and in 2023 lung cancer as well. She fought valiantly for many years enduring much suffering from the result of her surgeries and treatment, however she was determined to push forward.

Her favorite scriptures were Psalms 27:14 “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Moroni 10:34 “And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen”

KarenJo is preceded in death by her father, Joseph Milantoni. Left to mourn her passing are her husband of 33 years, her mother, Rose Milantoni (101 years of age), as well as a host of family, friends, and brothers and sisters in the Church whose lives she touched. Her stories and memories will live on in the hearts of those who loved her.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Church of Jesus Christ NAOC.Gospel Blog article by Sister KarenJo- published in December 2016 Today, we’re bringing you a Miracle Monday that connects to last week’s testimony, a story that Sister KarenJo Pandone related to very personally. This is her story of how the Lord answered her question, “Who am I in this world?” Since Christmas is a family-focused time of year, we think this theme is quite appropriate.

I was adopted as a 6-week-old infant and became the daughter of two loving parents who couldn’t have children. Brother Joe and Sister Rose Milantoni raised me in a loving home where I never wanted for anything. I knew from the moment I could understand that I was adopted. They always associated it with a positive twist: “They chose me,” “God gave me to them,” “I was their adopted sweetheart,” all of which made me feel very special — so much so that I would go up to perfect strangers and proudly announce, “I’m adopted!”

My life was full in every respect. Dad was an evangelist in The Church and extremely active in the Native American work as well as the GMBA. I lived in Muncey, Ontario and San Carlos, Arizona, where my parents sought to bring the Gospel to God’s chosen people. I witnessed many miracles while in the mission field. I saw how my Dad was instrumental in the start of the Inner City Mission in Detroit, Michigan. The Lord called me into His Church at the young age of 14, and my parents made sure I was at every conference, campout, and church event that we could possibly travel to. My life was full.

At the age of 37, thinking I would never get married, I began to plan for a life alone. I was blessed with a good job and had the love of the saints. I decided that was enough for me. Once again, the Lord took charge of my life, and I met my husband, Michael, at a GMBA Campout. After we got engaged, we found out that the brother who initially introduced us was prompted by the Lord to do so, and another brother, while praying for the young people at the upcoming campout, had a dream where he saw Michael and me getting married.

Growing up, I heard people talk about feeling a “connection” to their heritage. This was an aspect of my life that I felt was missing. I knew from adoption papers that I was half Scottish, a quarter English, and a quarter Irish, although I was raised by 100 percent Italian parents. I didn’t feel a “connection” to any nationality.

Early in our marriage, Michael and I visited Canterbury Village in Michigan with my husband’s parents. It is an area dedicated to all things Christmas, and it has several small buildings that sell things associated with various nationalities. One of those buildings housed all things Scottish. I entered thinking, “This is where I’ll find my connection!” I walked around hearing the music, seeing the many themed items, and looking at all the Clan symbols, waiting to feel that “connection.” Michael could see that something was troubling me and kept asking if I was OK. I just nodded my head and kept waiting for that “connection.”

Unfortunately, it never came, and I left feeling empty and unsettled. That night, as I was preparing for bed, I asked the Lord why I didn’t feel a connection to my heritage. For some reason, this was very important to me. As I got into bed, a very soft voice spoke to my mind, “You are my child.” Immediately, I felt enveloped in warmth and love. Everything fell into place, and I had my “connection.” I was a Child of God. He met every need throughout my life — gave me loving parents who raised me in His Church and provided a husband who loved the Lord as much as I did.

My “connection” was and is complete. I am the Lord’s child. Yes, I love all the Scottish plaids. I have red hair like a true Irish. I say sorry a lot, as I’m told the English tend to do. I love my pasta like a true Italian — but my “connection” is with the Lord. And that’s enough for me.