Sister Karen Klimczak loved a good garden.

So it only seemed fitting to the parishioners of SS. Columba & Brigid Church to build a memorial garden in her honor.

The parish at Eagle and Hickory streets is planning a spring groundbreaking for the Peace Garden designed to celebrate the life of Sister Karen, a peace-promoting Catholic nun who was murdered in 2006 by a resident of the halfway house she operated on Grider Street.

Sister Karen was a longtime pastoral associate at SS. Columba & Brigid, where she helped plan liturgies and programs for youth — in addition to her work with ex-convicts.

“People still feel she’s a part of their lives,” said the Rev. Roy Herberger, pastor of SS. Columba & Brigid and a close friend of Sister Karen.

Members of the parish have been saying, “We’ve got to do something to show our gratitude and respect,” he added. “She always loved to have gardens — the signs of life and the beauty and variety of colors and flowers.”

The garden will contain three large boulders: one with the image of Sister Karen, another with a quote about peace and nonviolence from her diary and a third with a description of her ministry and an image of a dove—the symbol Sister Karen often used to spread her peace message.

Five displays along a brick pathway also will highlight quotes from famous figures in history, such as Mahatma Gandhi and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., discussing nonviolence.

Visitors will be able to sit on two benches within the garden, which will be decorated with a variety of shrubs and flowers.

“We didn’t want people to forget the work Sister Karen did for so many years she was in the community,” said Ruth Kennedy, a parishioner. “It’s all in honor of her.”

The parish hopes for an April groundbreaking and is appealing to the public for sponsorships and donations. The project is expected to cost about $32,000.

A dedication of the garden likely will happen in October, around the time of Sister Karen’s birthday.