Karen P. Van Houten, 48, of Waltham, formerly of Concord, died Saturday, September 8, 2012 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. She was the loving partner of Thomas M. Flynn of Waltham. Born in Washington, DC on July 26, 1964, she was the daughter of Dr. Francis X. and Mrs. Marjorie C. Van Houten. She attended Concord public schools and graduated from Concord Academy in 1982. She received a bachelor's degree from The College of the Holy Cross in 1986, where she majored in Psychology. For many years, Karen was employed as a Human Resources Executive at Jordan Marsh Department Store, Lechmere Sales, and Aetna Insurance Company. Diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis at age 28, Karen continued to lead an active working and social life until the progression of the disease forced an early retirement. She became an active volunteer for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society chapters in Houston TX and Baltimore MD. Upon returning to the greater Boston area she became the inspiration for the New England Chapter's "Women Against MS" - a fundraising and awareness event that continues to this day. A resident of Waltham since 2001, she enjoyed horseback riding and participated in therapeutic riding at the Lovelane Riding Stables in Lincoln. In addition to her loving partner Tom, and her parents, she is survived by two brothers, Paul Van Houten and his wife Christina of Weston and Scott Van Houten and his wife Colleen of Concord, her grandfather Michael J. Fiorentino of East Longmeadow, her niece and nephews Will and Jack of Weston and Rowan and Turner of Concord, her aunt Sandra Howie and her husband Doug of East Longmeadow, and three cousins, Jennifer Cohen of Brookline, Jeffrey Quinn of Melrose and Brendan Quinn of Longmeadow. She was also the granddaughter of the late Mary A. Fiorentino, and the late Jessie and David Van Houten. Cemetery: Private interment will be in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord. Visitation: Visitation will be held on Sunday afternoon, September 16th from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM in the Dee Funeral Home of Concord, 27 Bedford Street, Concord, Massachusetts. Service: A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, September 17th at 11 AM in the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord, Massachusetts. At a future date, a Mass celebrating Karen's life will be held on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross.