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In Loving Memory of Kristen Sharon (Nolan) — Please Help Us Bring Her Home and Lay Her to Rest.

I am Kristen’s mother, and I am writing this on behalf of our family during an unimaginable loss. This fundraiser has been created to help cover the urgent and unexpected expenses following Kristen’s death.

Your donation will help cover Kristen’s urgent and necessary expenses, including storage of her remains in Argentina, legal and autopsy fees, and logistics to bring her belongings home, and funeral costs.

She will be flown home by her Travelers insurance to be buried in Michigan and memorialized at Steffens-Mitchell funeral home in Chelsea. She will be laid to rest with other family members at Oak Grove Cemetery. We still need to purchase the available plot.

Every contribution brings us closer to bringing Kristen home with the care and dignity she deserves.

Kristen was kind, compassionate, and full of warmth. She never met a stranger — she could talk to anyone, and people immediately felt comfortable with her. She had a soft, gentle way about her, a tender voice, and gave the best hugs. So many people have shared how much they loved her, from her neighbors to people she encountered in her everyday life. Kristen was deeply loved, and she loved deeply in return.

Kristen lived in Orlando and had a lifelong love for Disney. She joined the Disney College Program in the early 2000s and remained connected to Disney for more than 15 years. Disney was not just something she enjoyed — it was a constant part of her life. She worked for Disney, attended the parks often, and found genuine happiness there.

Kristen was also a licensed beautician and hair instructor. She worked with Aveda through Douglas J Beauty School in Ann Arbor, where she loved doing hair and teaching hair. She found great joy in helping others learn, grow, and feel confident in their skills. Even after moving on professionally, she continued to do hair for friends and family, something she truly loved.

Later, Kristen found her true calling working as a Cruise Connoisseur with Panache Cruises. She was genuinely happy in this role and excited to build her clientele. Kristen loved her job so much that she would often walk me through Panache’s commission tiers, explaining how pay increased as she built her clients and reached higher levels. She was proud of her progress and thrilled by the structure and goals of her work. I remember telling her, “Kristen, you’re making me want to become a Cruise Connoisseur too!” She truly loved what she was doing, wanted to be successful for her company, for her boss, and for her clients, and she really felt at home in this role.

An opportunity to join an expedition cruise to Antarctica through her employer came together quickly, with less than two months to plan. The trip was funded by her company and connected to her work, as she was preparing to expand into selling expedition cruises when she returned. Kristen was excited about the experience and especially looked forward to kayaking and camping.

Tragically, during a camping excursion in Antarctica, something went wrong during the night. When the group came to wake her, Kristen had passed away. We expected her to be home by now, but circumstances beyond our control changed everything.

Kristen’s body remains in Argentina. No autopsy was performed at the time of her death, and we were later informed by the Argentinian prosecutor that we must hire our own attorney to petition the court for an autopsy so we can have answers. Kristen purchased an insurance policy, but it only covers 30 days of storage for her body, and that coverage is ending in just days. After that, we will be responsible for daily storage fees, and additional legal fees.

We have already incurred significant expenses, including travel, lodging, rental vehicles, and logistics. We are also trying to honor her love for her little Subaru Crosstrek. She was so proud of that car. A family member will buy it and keep it in the family because we know how much it meant to her. All of that takes time. Ahead, we are facing the costs of an autopsy, international legal fees, continued storage, transportation, funeral and burial expenses, a burial plot, and a headstone. At this time, we do not yet know the full extent of the expenses we will face.

This fundraiser has been created to help cover these overwhelming and time-sensitive costs and to ensure Kristen is brought home with dignity and laid to rest with the care and respect she deserves. Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help more than words can express. If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser or keeping our family in your thoughts is deeply appreciated.

Kristen was small in stature, but her presence was enormous. She was gentle, loving, and unforgettable. She will be missed beyond measure.

With gratitude,

Kristen’s Mom

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