A Pennsylvania widower whose late husband was worried she would suffer financial problems when he died won a $1 million lottery jackpot.
Karen Coffman, 61, won the state lottery just two weeks before her husband Robert died. in April due to complications from a brain tumor.
“When I told him about the award, he thought I was lying to him,” Karen, 61, said of her husband of 31 years.
The mother of three added that she believes there was a spiritual intervention that allowed her to win.
“I think he had something going on, because he was worried. I hope he’s putting this down,” an emotional Karen said Thursday at a ceremony in which lottery officials presented her with a ceremonial check.
Karen Coffman, 61, won the state lottery just two weeks before her husband Robert died in April from complications of a brain tumor. She is seen with her family.
It took place at the same BP gas station where he bought his winning ticket, which cost him just $20.
‘I don’t go out places. I work and come home. They know me here (at the station),’ Karen said.
The longtime resident of Freeport, near Pittsburgh, described herself as a consistent lottery player who prefers instant tickets.
When she realized she had won a big prize, she initially stood in disbelief inside the store before a station employee verified her victory.
“When I told him about the award, he thought I was lying to him,” Karen, 61, said of her 31-year-old husband, Robert, pictured.
Karen, who received a lump sum payment, worked in the aged care industry before retiring last month.
She then went home and was shaking when she told her husband.
‘My dad was very worried about her. He was worried about money. I feel like he was literally pulling strings to make sure she was okay,” said Ashley Uptegraph, Karen’s daughter. TribLive.
“I think he just wanted to do something good before he died.”
Karen, who received a lump sum payment, worked in the aged care industry before retiring last month.
He said he plans to use some of his winnings to treat his family to a luxury trip to Disney and eventually plans to move to Florida, saying, “I don’t want winter anymore.” I hate the cold.’
Just weeks before winning the jackpot, he had also won $500 on a scratcher, according to CBS News. Karen bought all the winning scratch-offs at the same BP gas station.
Karen also plans to play the lottery again when things calm down.
And it’s not Karen’s first time winning the lottery: she won $65,000 in a scratch-off ticket in 2010.
Just weeks before winning the jackpot, he had also won $500 on a scratcher, according to CBS News.
Karen bought all the winning scratch-offs at the same BP gas station.