Karen Wesley Ermlich Prince, 62, of Islamorada, Florida passed peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 after a long and courageous battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.
Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Karen is survived by her children Breeanna Prince, Joshua F. Prince, John D. Prince III (Maddie) and Shannann Prince; her grandchildren Jacob Mitchell, Danica and Jackson Prince; her parents Michael and Claire Cassada; brother Arthur C. Ermlich Jr. (Christine); nieces Sarah Zuidema (Jason) and Elizabeth Kondracki (Andrew); and her nephew Arthur C. Ermlich III. She was predeceased by her father Arthur C. Ermlich.
Karen was an adventurer at heart — an aviator and an angler — proving that both the sky and the sea held magic for her. She explored the world, traveling as often as possible, and never met a beach she didn’t love. She raised her children in the islands — first building a home in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands and then moving to the Florida Keys, where she remained for over 27 years.
She was deeply involved in her community and both her friends and her orchid garden were a source of great comfort and joy. Karen’s ready smile and infectious laughter were balm to many a soul and she developed amazing, loving relationships that sustained her over a lifetime. She will be missed beyond measure and those who loved her will always remember the depth of caring, open arms and generous heart that defined her life.
A Celebration of Life was held on May 17 at Safe Harbor Angler House in Islamorada. Her ashes will be spread from the sky to the sea in her favorite island places in private ceremonies at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Project Garcia – Glioblastoma Research Organization (gbmresearch.org) or the Million Orchid Project (fairchildgarden.org).
