Karen Selss, born on October 9, 1957, in Washington, DC, a devoted wife, loving mother, and cherished friend, passed away on January 4, 2026, in Silver Spring, MD, after a courageous battle with multiple health challenges. For more than forty years, Karen shared a loving and devoted marriage with her husband, Ira. She was a proud and dedicated mother, giving unconditional love to her son, Michael, and her daughter, Melissa.

Karen's warmth, infectious laugh, and gentle heart brought happiness to all who knew her and brightened the day of everyone she encountered. Karen had a deep and abiding love for small, fluffy dogs, who were her constant companions throughout her life and brought her great joy, including Teddy, her beloved Japanese Chin, who sat faithfully by her side in her final years. Her affection for animals reflected her nurturing spirit and gentle nature.

Following a debilitating stroke, which left her essentially incapacitated for the last decade, she continued to approach each day with a cheerful, optimistic, and positive attitude, inspiring those around her with her resilience and strength. Despite limited direct social engagement in her later years, she had a large social media circle, keeping in touch with friends from Northwood High School, Kaufmann Camp, and more recently, with Teddy's siblings’ "parents".

Karen faced her significant health challenges with remarkable grace and courage. She consistently placed the happiness and well-being of others above her own. Her remarkable memory, enduring connections to the past, and embrace of social media allowed her to maintain and nurture her friendships and interests, including classic era television, and was an "expert" on all things relating to I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball.

Karen's memory will live on through the many lives she touched, her unwavering love for her family, her loyal friendship, compassion, and quiet strength. She is survived by her devoted husband, Dr. Ira Selss; her son, Michael Selss; her daughter, Melissa Selss, and son-in-law, Pavlos Karalis; and her brother, Larry Shor, and sister, Mindy Shor.

Donations may be made in Karen's memory to Montgomery County Partners for Animal Well-Being (MCPAW), at mcpaw.org, or to American Heart Association at heart.org.