Carol E. (Murphy) Nolan

Carol E. Nolan
January 24, 1935 – March 10, 2026
 
Carol E. Nolan was born January 24, 1935 to the late Timothy T. Murphy and Elizabeth M. Murphy. 

Carol passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026. She is survived by her cousins and many dear friends. 

For 35 years, Carol ministered to the youth of Chicago, constantly struggling with the startling statements of her students such as: “Richard Byrd sold frozen food to the Eskimos” and “BACTERIA IS THE BACK OF THE CAFETERIA,” which fact could have hastened her demise…..

To all the children whom Carol taught she leaves her universal and eternal love, laughter and gratitude for teaching her! 

Carol’s love for teaching children was second only to her love of animals. She was an extremely generous woman—there were no hungry cats in her area. She opened her heart, her barn, and her home to many a lost feline. Bowls of food and water were placed outside for kitties, as well as Olivia the Opossum and her family. This practice was discontinued after the discovery that Templeton the Rat and Minerva the Mouse were attempting a takeover.
 Lefty, the grackle whose broken leg was set with toothpicks and a tiny bandage; Henry, the happy robin; and Sylvia, the cedar waxwing all owe their lives to Carol. Lefty stayed with her until his leg was strong and then, of course, left with the fall migration. The following March he returned and continued their friendship.
Henry, the gregarious robin, gladdened the hearts of her class with his cheerfulness and playfulness—being the only local robin who regularly commuted 100 miles daily.

It was her wish to have the following qualities cremated and the ashes scattered in a flowing stream: intolerance, criticism, judgmentalness, fear, short-temperedness, anger, and bitterness. She did not want to leave those to anyone due to their addictive nature.

Carol has left us some of her treasures:
To those whose spirits are bent and battered — her love of trees, woods, and “critters.”
To the poets — her love of wind and stars and mist and fog.
To the dancers — her love of ballet.
To the singers — her love of folk music.
To the dog and cat lovers — if there aren’t any, it ain’t “heaven”!
Carol believed that children are to be honored and respected and that we are all one- equal and loved. 

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 101 N. Church St., Otis, IN 46391. 

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