Corinne M. Stocks

Corinne M. Stocks (nee Olson), age 94, from Chicago, IL, passed away in Springfield, IL, on October 20, 2023. Her husband, Edward P. Stocks, preceded her in death as did her Father, Ernest Olson, mother, Mary Olson and sister Lorraine Moriarty (Jack) and many other family members. Survivors include her son Peter Stocks (Kathleen), daughter Sheila Stocks-Smith (Lawrence Smith), brother Edward Olson (Ann), nieces Jan Moriarty, Julie McCarty, Diane Moriarty, Erin Conant (Rodger) Kerry Robbins (Richard), Brigetta Olson (Liam Finlay) and nephew Orion Olson. She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Ryan Stocks (Elexis), Justin Stocks-Smith (Kathleen Su) and Lauren Stocks-Smith (Peter Rechter), three great grandchildren, Elise and Ethan Stocks and Gabrielle Stocks and cousins Richard Olson and Donald Colby (Joanne).

Corinne loved Chicago and was the proud daughter of a Chicago motorcycle policemen and a homemaker who was an active board officer of the American Red Cross. She was born in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood and was a member of St. Dorothy Parish. She attended St. Dorothy’s grade school and Mercy High School where she was active in the acapella choir, theater and newspaper. She also attended Wilson City College. She enjoyed close friendships with girls who became lifelong friends. Corinne loved to dance and saved many “dance cards” from that time. She also kept treasured photos of formal after-school dance dinners held at iconic Chicago hotels and could identify without hesitation attendees in the photos until her death. 

Corinne met Edward P. Stocks while working at the American Slicing Company and they married in 1951. Later they moved to Dolton, IL, and adopted Peter and Sheila from Catholic Charities. Corinne volunteered with New Hope School for children with intellectual disabilities and was active in Peter and Sheila’s school, Queen of Apostles, where she headed a Great Books Club, was treasurer for the athletic club, volunteered in the library and more.   

Corinne was an avid reader and worked for the Dolton Public Library, a job she loved, for twenty years in a number of capacities but retired coordinating community programs and films. Before she was married, Corinne worked for CBS radio in the McGraw Hill Building in downtown Chicago and met many radio stars of the era. In 1980, at age 51, her husband Ed died,leaving her to manage alone. Several years later, she made one of the best decisions of her life and moved to Oak Hills Country Club townhome community in Palos Heights where she made life-long friends, played golf and served on the golf and pool committees for many years. Corinne played bridge most of her life and was a master at scrabble (rarely losing) and crosswords. Corinne hosted many Thanksgivings and other family gatherings both in Dolton and Palos Heights and visited her grandkids in California and Springfield, IL.   

Corinne was well-liked and cherished her friendships made across all phases of her long life, sadly seeing most of them precede her in death. However, she continued to make new friends during her later years while living in senior living facilities in Tinley Park and Springfield, IL. Corinne was fiercely independent, resilient and a force to be reckoned with.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent in Corinne’s memory to the Palos Heights Public Library.