Obituary of Karin Marie Noland

     Karin Marie Noland (née Alverson), of Durham, NC, died early in the morning on October 23, 2022 at home.  

     Karin is survived by her husband, Michael Kendall, her children Chris (John Heaney) of New York City and Charles of Carrboro, and their father Lloyd Noland (lucy Dorsey) of Landrum, SC.  She is also survived by her sister Inge (Lee Bacon) of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, her nephew John (Sara) Bacon of Sturgeon Bay, grand-nephew Henry and grand-niece Sofie Mae.

     Karin was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to John and Gabriele Alverson.  She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry from The Ohio State University, and her Master of Science in Chemistry from Xavier University in Cincinnati.  Having spent several summers working in various labs in University Hospital in Cincinnati.  Karin enjoyed a year working in the Clinical Chemistry Lab there before going to work for the Drackett Company, eventually becoming a Senior Chemist in air freshener and Windex product development.  She was then blessed with the opportunity to raise two wonderful children, and enjoyed volunteering with many different school and community organizations; faced with an empty nest, she learned to prepare tax returns, and volunteered with various political campaigns, including the effort to pass the Affordable Care Act.    

     Although her life in many ways was quite ordinary, Karin always felt that she had been extraordinarily blessed.  When she worked outside the home, she enjoyed the challenges of the workplace, but she was equally fulfilled by her work as a volunteer with church youth programs, school PTOs, Cub Scouts, swim teams and high school marching band.  She had loving relationships with her parents, her sister and family, and her children, along with a few close but dear friends.  She was able to explore beautiful historical sites in Europe and Central America, to enjoy “Die blaue Stunde” on the beach in Sturgeon Bay, and to experience the wonders of some of America’s amazing national parks.  A dedicated reader, Karin looked back fondly at the hours spent reading to her children when they were young.  She and Mike loved to cook together, and equally loved exploring new restaurants.  When the cancer that had been diagnosed in 2015 finally began to take its toll, she still enjoyed sitting on the back deck, being entertained by the variety of birds that live in, or pass through, the Piedmont.  She hated  having to leave her loved ones too soon, but was grateful for every blessing and every person who made her life so good. 

     A visitation is planned for Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM at Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill.  Karin asked that those wishing to make a contribution in her memory consider a local food bank, or any local organization that supports those in need.