Carol Ann graduated in 1955 from Belleville Township High School. As a young woman, she was employed as a secretary at the J.F. Imbs Milling Co. Later Carol enjoyed working in the women’s department at Fellner’s Department Store in downtown Belleville. Her sense of style and her graciousness were recognized by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Carol was a beauty on the outside, and beautiful on the inside. She loved her flowers, loved reading and learning, loved history and art. She maintained lifelong friendships with her closest girlfriends from school, and in her later years found great joy in sharing life with her dear pussycat. Her daughter Lisa was Carol’s pride and joy, and she raised her with gentleness and appreciation for the beauty of nature, with a love of books, history, theatre, movies and politics. To Lisa, Carol was simply the best mother in the whole world. She was dearly, deeply loved.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence “Larry” and Helen, nee Haentzler, Geary.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Wahlig;
her brother, Jim Geary;
her beloved daughter, Lisa (Barry) Van Deman;
her precious grandchildren, Connor and Emeline;
and her cherished pussycat, Casey.
“When sunset flows into golden glows, And the breath of night is new, Love finds afar eve’s eager star – That is my thought of you.”
Carol’s family wishes to express their deepest thanks to the nursing staff at Memorial Hospital for their countless acts of kindness and their compassionate, loving care during Carol’s last weeks.
Memorial donations in Carol’s honor may be made to the Belleville Area Humane Society in support of the cats that Carol loved, or to KETC, Channel 9, which provided Carol countless happy hours enjoying the best of British television. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: In celebration of her life, friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, 2017, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, 2017, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, with Rev. Jim Robinson officiating.
Private burial will be held at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Belleville, IL.