WILMINGTON — Carol Helen Owens passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in the care of Hospice on
August 29th, 2024, surrounded by her loving family for the 10 days preceding her death.
Carol was born on November 27, 1932, in Chicago, IL to Helga Johnson and her loving father “Pop”. Carol lost her father at the tender age of 6, having had such an impact on her, she spoke about him until her last days. She had 3 sisters: Florence, Joan and Diane, Florence and Joan passing before her. Carol met her future loving husband, Roger at the age of 13, marrying five years later on June 23, 1951, remaining faithful to each other for 65 years. In the first 20 years of their marriage, Carol and Roger had eight children. More than anything, she loved being a mother to her four boys and four girls.
Carol highly valued education which was instilled into her from her mother. Her mother came to the United States from Sweden as a teenager, marrying, having children, widowed all at a young age had no time for education, finally getting her high school diploma at the age of 71.
Carol loved going to church on Sundays, fellowshipping with her church group weekly, exercising, volunteering for the Barrington Swim Club, Special Olympics, walking the dogs, baking cookies with her children and grandchildren, playing her piano and large family gatherings. Holidays were her favorite family time, putting together picture-perfect dining room tables, from the freshly ironed table linens to the placeholders with a sweet treat to the silver tea service after dinner.
When her loving husband passed away in 2017, she began a new chapter of her life with her youngest child’s family, Jeannine in Georgia and then in North Carolina.
Eventually John, her second youngest, moved to North Carolina to assist with her care.
Carol passed away with a love for the Lord putting complete faith in Jesus Christ. She
will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Because of her desire to help everyone and anyone and how she extended kindness and charity, the world is a better place because of our mom.
She is survived by her 8 children: Mindy, Carolyn, Ed (Dimple), David, Diane (Rich),
Robert (Giovanna), John and Jeannine (Peter), 14 grandchildren: Adrienne (Dave),
Erika (Nate), Alex, Michelle, Lauren, Sarah, Gracianna, Tony (Tamara), Richie, Oliver,
Ozzie, Oona, Luke and Isabelle and 9 great grandchildren: Isaiah, Jayden, Chaya,
Kaleb, Liam, River, Noah, Nicholas, and Benjamin.
Services to celebrate Carol’s life will be held at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, IL on Saturday, October 26th at 1:30pm in the chapel.