Carol Anne Nolf, age 61, of Mount Airy, MD, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of May 27, 2021. After years of battling with Esophageal Cancer that later spread to other parts of her body, she succumbed to the miserable disease. She fought until the very end and astonished us all with her bravery and courage.

Carol was born in Bryn Mawr, PA, and grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ with her father, Robert C. Simonds, her mother, Jean R. Simonds, and her brother, Geoffrey Simonds. She attended the University of Maryland College Park to obtain her undergraduate degree in chemistry. While studying, she worked for the University of Maryland Agricultural Department. It wasn’t until she crashed her car when she met a mechanic by the name of Greg Nolf that would change her life forever. He held off working on her car so that she would keep coming back to check on it, a strategy that proved to be effective. The two later married in 1982 and had two sons, Chris and Brett.

After graduating from the University of Maryland College Park, she worked as a Chemist for Genetic Engineering. Then, while raising the children at their home in Olney, MD, Carol maintained her own business, working as a seamstress, designing, creating, sewing, and fabricating curtains, pillows, furniture coverings, and more for numerous clients. When the children were in their early teens, she went back to school in pursuit of a graduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland University College. After graduating summa cum laude, she started as a Software Engineer for Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, where she worked for the remainder of her successful career. She was one year shy of retirement when she received the dreaded cancer diagnosis.

Carol had many hobbies in her lifetime, ranging from gardening and sewing to caring for her beloved dogs and exploring the beaches of Ocean City, NJ and Lewes, DE. She spent a lot of her spare time in the garden, landscaping beautiful and delicate designs with plants, flowers, and trees. Greg and Carol often worked in the yard simultaneously, and found joy in doing this and other outdoor activities together. Carol also kept up her talents in sewing and knitting, creating countless decorative pieces for the Nolf household. Although the family had several dogs in her lifetime, she was most fond of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. In her last few years, she had to say goodbye to the three Spaniels, two of whom suffered from and died of cancer. She also spent a lot of time walking the beaches with Greg, where they would “get their steps in for the day” by exploring and taking in the surf, sand, and sun.

Carol is survived by her husband and best friend, Greg; her sons and daughter-in-law, Chris, Brett, and Melissa; her mother, Jean; her mother-in-law, Donna; her brother, Geoffrey; and the family’s golden retriever, Petey.

Rather than having a funeral, Carol wished to be cremated upon her death, and for her ashes to be scattered in a private familial ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you remember those who are struggling and those who have lost their lives to Esophageal and other cancers. If you would, please consider donating to one of the following charities in Carol's name: the American Cancer Society, the Esophageal Cancer Action Network, or EC Aware.

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