Thalia Kearney

Durham, NC – Thalia Kearney, age 88, died in Hillsborough, North Carolina on February 7, 2022. She was born on June 16, 1933 to the late Fritz and Tyne Hakola in Painesville, OH 

Thalia was married to James (Jim) Kearney for 48 years. They moved to Durham in 1962 when Jim became one of the first employees at Research Triangle Institute (RTI). Thalia was a homemaker. She volunteered a lot of her time to worthy causes. She was a volunteer teacher’s aide at Walltown Elementary School for a number of years, both she and James worked with Meals on Wheels delivering lunches as well as many other causes.

She and Jim were active members of Immaculate Conception Church in Durham where Thalia was involved with the Catholic Daughters.

Thalia is survived by three children, Sandra Gustafson and her husband John, Terrance Kearney and his wife Rosemary, and Lori Kearney and her life partner Angela Greer. Four grandchildren, Sean and Amy Gustafson, Benjamin, and David Kearney, and three great grandchildren, Avery and Arthur Gustafson, and Maple Kearney, and one brother, Roger Hakola. Thalia was preceded in death by her husband James Kearney.

Visitation will be Tuesday, February 15 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home at 1113 West Main Street in Durham, NC 27701. The funeral will be at Immaculate Conception Church on Wednesday, February 16 at 11:00 AM at 810 West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701. 

The Kearney family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.