Obituary of Karen Ann DeSombre

   Karen Ann DeSombre, 72, passed away in her home in Hillsborough, NC on Saturday, July 4, 2020.  She is survived by her brother, Earl "Buddy"Schommer, Jr. of Newcastle, Delaware; her two sons and daughter's-in-law,Wayne and Amy Pennachi of Hillsborough and Matthew and Miranda Pennachi of Durham and four grandchildren Laura, Lucas, Max and Victor.

   She was predeceased by her husband, Kurt DeSombre and her parents, Earl and Lililam Schommer.

   Karen spent many years in the medical field.  She warked as a Phlebotomist in both Delaware and Alaska before moving to North Carolina, where she became a Lab Manager at the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Lab.  She later moved to the Center for Human Genetics (first at Duke and later at the University of Miami), where she helped to futher research in the fields of Autism and Alzheimer's disease.  

   Karen was well-loved in many communities.  She was especially compassionate about caring for and working with children.  Between her work running the nursery every week at Hillsborough United Methodist Church and teaching children (and adults) to sew through her businesses (By George and Come Sew with Me) at the Little Shops of Mebane, hundreds of children have known her as Gigi (a name given to her by her own grandchildren).  She also taught sewing classes for the Archway Academy.  She was also well known for her various outreach ministries, including Rags, Bags & Flags (which provided quilts and prayer knots for the ill, the grieving and the lonely), and through her business provided many much-needed suppies to the Rape Crisis Center, local returement homes and anyone who had a need.  Most recently, she had been sewing and providing masks to the community at large in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

   Karen was an avid doll collector and restorer.  She also used her seamstress skills to make dresses and gowns for many people all across the world.  She had several sewing certifications including from Martha Pullen.  She was a active board member at the Burwell School, and her proudest contribution to them was a historically faithful reproduction of a dress that Elizabeth Keckley created First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln.  She wa also very active with the Single Action Shooters Society (SASS), wher she was known at Carolina Kate. 

   Karen was well-loved by family and friends and has impacted so many lives.  Everyone she touched was better off for having known her.  She will be missed. She walks with God now, as she was always His good and faithful disciple.