Karen Lee Sitero

Karen Lee Sitero (Ransom) (nee McCartin) passed away on February 15, 2026, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Karen passed away due to complications from ongoing cancer treatments. She fought a courageous battle against the devastating cancer diagnosis with her usual strength of character, and stubborn determination. She underwent many rounds of successful cancer treatments making amazing progress in diminishing the cancer, but ultimately was unable to overcome several serious complications associated with the treatments.

Karen was born on July 21, 1958 in Coral Cables, FL to William McCartin and Lorna McCartin. In the early 1960’s the family moved to Tampa, FL where Karen grew up with her siblings Kathleen, Kimberly, and William. She graduated from T.R. Robinson high school in 1976.

Karen was a hardworking force of nature from an early age. She held multiple concurrent jobs for many years trying to find her path in life. She had a great interest in interior design, but decided it would not be a sustainable career for her. She loved boating, scuba diving, water skiing, and snow skiing in her twenties.

In 1981 she married Max Sitero. In the mid-1980’s, she was hired by Costco at the company’s first warehouse in the state of Florida (Tampa Bay area). They eventually relocated to south Florida, with Karen transferring with Costco to a warehouse in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area. They later divorced.

Karen thrived at Costco and recognized it as a great opportunity for career growth, eventually becoming a Costco warehouse manager. She moved to several different warehouses in the south Florida area, and relocated to the Boston, MA area for several years to further her Costco career. She eventually returned to south Florida with Costco.

Karen had a great passion for ballroom dancing. It was during a chance encounter following a dance lesson in 1996 that she met her partner/husband Michael Ransom. Karen and Michael were both very skilled ballroom dancers making it look easy while gliding effortlessly across the dance floor. They participated in many competitions and charity events. They made their home in the south Florida area for many years until recently relocating to the Flagstaff, AZ and Los Lunas, NM areas.

Karen was a very caring and generous soul. She had a great sense of family and community. She supported several south Florida charities. She provided in-home care for her father, mother, and aunt for many years prior to their deaths. Karen and Michael made many sacrifices to ensure her parents and aunt were well cared for. Karen was the driver among family members to keep connected with her siblings and with the Ransom family members.

She planned, scheduled, and financed numerous trips with family members. This included memorable trips to Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and a trip to a dude ranch in northern Idaho. She loved the Grand Canyon. Karen and Michael made several memorable trips to the canyon over the years.

After a 35-plus year career with Costco, Karen retired in 2021. Her final passion was to build a family pueblito in the Los Lunas, NM area located near many of Michael’s family members. Karen envisioned a community of family members living in close proximity to look after one another while growing old together. Karen planned, developed, and oversaw this project. She was able to see partial completion of the pueblito and her vision. Sadly, she passed away prior to seeing the project come to fruition.

It is with extremely heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Karen. She was loved more than she knew, and she will be deeply missed. She is now pain free and at peace.

She is survived by her husband Michael Ransom; siblings, Kathleen McCartin; Kimberly McCartin; William McCartin (Anne); and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, William McCartin; and mother, Lorna McCartin.

A rosary and mass will be held Thursday April 16, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 7 Church Loop, Tome, NM 87060.

Burial will be held Thursday April 16, at 1:30 p.m. at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, 7999 Wyoming Blvd, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.