Happen To See A Strange Flag Flying at St Marys Last Week?
Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A funeral was held Saturday for a Stewartville woman who was fatally injured after being hit by a car in Rochester Nov 2nd.
According to the obituary for 47-year old Karlys “Kari” Koens, she was working as an administrative assistant in the nursing department at Mayo Clinic at the time of her death. It notes she was “named the 2017 Wellness Champion.”It went on to say, “She had a giving heart which even in death she gave of herself through the gift of life and organ donation.”
The donation of her organs began last Monday and there was a ceremony to mark the occasion that many may not be aware of.
A special flag was raised just outside the St Marys Hospital 2nd St entrance. In fact, there was a small ceremony to mark the event. The Life Source organization based in Minneapolis oversees organ donor cases in Minnesota.
Communications Manager Rebecca Ousley says it's called the Donate Life flag and it is “usually flies as long as the donation process takes. We bring it down when it is all finished, normally 24-48 hours.”
Ousley says the flag-raising “serves as a moment of healing for the family” and usually includes members of the hospital team working on the case.
In this case, the flag remain raised through Tuesday. Kari’s donations included her major organs, eyes, and tissue.
News update: Minnesota teen killed in head-on wreck.