Carol A. Stefan

Carol Stefan died of respiratory failure on January 7. She was 86 years old.

Carol is survived by five children (Steve Stefan and Colleen Judge, Katie and Pat Caruso, Tom and Mary Pat Stefan, Larry and Pamela Stefan, Matt Stefan and Maria Marini), 13 grandchildren (Steve Stefan, Jennifer Ryan, Mollie Wilcox, Allison Stefan, Emily Stefan, Symeon Stefan, Sophia Stefan, Lukios Stefan, Theodora Stefan, Julianna Stefan, Tessora Stefan, Campbell Stefan, Caroline Stefan), and two great grandchildren (Gabriella Stefan and Carson Ryan).

She was preceded in death by her husband Steve Stefan, sister Pat Powers, brother Paul Bannon, and parents Paul and Margaret Bannon.

Carol had a playful, generous spirit and an ever-present smile. She was a wonderful mom, not only to her own kids but to everyone in the neighborhood. Carol was a calming presence who exuded kindness and warmth, which drew people to her. She was also non-judgmental, which invited open and honest conversation.

Carol loved the holidays. Any holiday. She relished dressing up or down for the occasion with a seemingly bottomless well of appropriately messaged and colored earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, brooches, sweaters, aprons, leather jackets, leather skirts, leather pants, socks, and shoes. Carol’s birthday was not just celebrated on February 21, but the entire month seemed to feature a string of get-togethers with the requisite singing at each and every one.

She loved music, particularly Broadway musicals. Carol enjoyed driving with the top down on her convertible and accompanying whoever was belting one out on XM channel 69. Barbra was her favorite recording artist, of course, but Carol was also on a first-name basis with Frank, Barry, Judy, and Liza as well.

Carol was naturally athletic but most comfortable with a racquet in her hand. She was an accomplished tennis player who played in team competitions into her 70s. With her family, she was a committed doubles player with a not so subtle “you can get it, you can get it” directed at her partner to chase down an opponent’s strong volley deep in the corner. This helped earn her an affectionate Goodfellas-like moniker of Carol Two-Times. She was also an early adopter of pickleball as her friends’ energy and enthusiasm to cover the entire tennis court started to wane.

Carol was born in Evanston and attended Saint Athanasius through eighth grade, her first of many years of Catholic education. She graduated high school from the local Marywood Academy, run by the Sisters of Providence, before getting married at her home parish in 1959. After having her fourth child in five years in Evanston, Carol crossed the Rubicon, also known as Madison Avenue. Steve and Carol moved their growing family to Palos Heights as Carol completed her transition from native North Sider to proud South Sider.

Nearly 25 years later, despite the requirements of a statistics course, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Xavier University in Mt. Greenwood. While confidence intervals and probability distributions were not her favorites, Carol was proud to have persevered and later worked at the school as a continuing education counselor.

She was an excellent role model, always asking how she could help others, and set a great example for her kids. In addition to her service at Saint Xavier, she was highly involved in the Palos community. For School District 128, Carol served on the board and was a member of the Parent Faculty Association. She was instrumental in organizing the Palos Heights Fourth of July parade, replicating a tradition she grew up with in Evanston, as well as a local block party on that day.

Carol was also active with the Palos Women’s Club and the League of Women Voters while volunteering at what is now called Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital as well as Meals on Wheels. In addition, she advocated for local businesses by interviewing them on the local cable public access station where she was a spokesperson and on-air personality.

Most importantly, she was a person of strong faith. Carol was a devout Catholic who revered the Virgin Mary. She was a long-time member of Saint Alexander’s in Palos Heights where Carol acted as a reader, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, a CCD teacher, and an organizer of various fundraising activities. Her travels around the world included a Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1993.

We are saddened by our loss but take great solace in Mom’s heavenly reunion with her husband, siblings, parents, and friends where her best memories are shared, her favorite music is heard, and her smile is everlasting.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Misericordia Home would be appreciated.