[Ohio-talk] {Spam?} Karen Noles

[Carol Akers]

For those of you who were unable to attend the services for our long time member Karen Noles of the Miami Valley chapter, I just wanted to take a moment to share some information with you.Karen's service was a wonderful reflection of her life, filled with music and song that she loved,  pictures of her life scrolling on the wall prior to the service and a church filled with  many relatives and friends gathering together to honor  Karen,  show their respect and support of her immediate  family. Her eulogy, written and read  by a long time friend, gave insight to her entire life from birth to death.  This was a story, a celebration of various events in her life and some humorous, mischievous moments that left us smiling.  (one was  her reaction to a little brother invading her territory and that she put him in the refrigerator to get rid of him)  Also described was her love  and protective nature of her brothers as she rescued the same brother from a police car when she was almost ready to give birth to her own child.  How fearless she always was,and outspoken and how she befriended a shy, quiet boy who rode the same school bus, and later became her husband. Her uncle made the comment that if Karen said she would be somewhere, including church,  she meant it and would be there, though often she was late, but she would be there despite the weather or the time. Our own NFB member, Wanda Sloan sang a  lovely song during the service.  I do believe that Karen was looking down and enjoying the service herself, free from the pain she had suffered over the last few months. Perhaps she even smiled.  I know she was proud of her son Tyler, who was very instrumental in all the details and coordination of the services.  At first I was surprised to see him handling all these details and making sure everything was just right for his momma, and then I recalled that he had told me in December about  working with the funeral home as his part time job.  He did an amazing job to make sure everything was just the way she would have liked it. Since not many of you were able to be there  I wanted  to also share with you that her casket was a beautiful white with pink rose trim, called Cameo Pink I believe.  Karen always liked to wear pink, so it was very fitting that she would have pink with her leaving.  The spray of roses on top of the casket were pale pink with  some white cala lilies and  baby's breath interspersed throughout.  Beautiful flowers she would have loved.  Something else as a way for people to say goodbye or express their feelings was to  add a comment or signature to the beautiful vault covering.  The entire covering was a beautiful sunset picture with a cross on a hill on the left lower side with  Karen's name, date of birth and death above it and the rest of the picture had the words Forever in God's Care flowing across it in large letters.  Please know that I have added these descriptions out of respect to Karen and her long term devotion to the NFB and that she would have wanted to share this with you.When we leave this world physically, all we have to share with those who survive us are memories, some are sad, but, most are  pleasant and happy. Remembering the smiles,  past words said, maybe even certain phrases used and above all, the  strong  foundation of Faith are ways we can keep someone always in our memory. Please keep this family in your prayers as they are dealing with their loss and grief.  In the midst of this all, they had been planning to move.  No one ever really expects to lose a loved one, even though we know it is unavoidable, we still  try to hang on and continue with our daily lives until the moment comes. Karen rest in peace and know we won't forget you.