Carolyn J. Smith

Carolyn Jane Smith, age 64, passed away peacefully at home on June 7, 2025 after a short, tumultuous, and fierce battle with metastatic melanoma. After two brain surgeries and numerous efforts to combat the challenging complications, the disease was too aggressive to overcome.

Carolyn was born in La Grange, Illinois to Warren and Irma Cox and when in first grade, her family moved to Hawaii for almost two years. After returning to the Chicago area, she graduated from William Fremd High School and Harper College with an associate’s degree in Horticulture. Both Hawaii and her love for horticulture influenced her love for Hawaiian music, Asian Cooking, flowers and plants.

Carolyn worked for Bailey, Banks and Biddle Jewelers for over 30 years and then for the Bensenville School District as a para-professional for the past 9 years. She loved both careers and especially loved the students and teachers in the schools.

Carolyn was deeply loved and will be terribly missed by her older brother Alan (and wife Catherine), older sister Susan (and husband Rick) and younger brother Paul. Lasting memories were made over the years and most especially in the last two months as they were with her day and night in the hospital.

Her pride and joy were her three sons, their wives and her 3 granddaughters. All three sons are surgeons and were so helpful as she maneuvered the medical language and decisions regarding her care. Nathan, Taylor and granddaughter Audra are in Nashville, TN where Nathan is finishing his cardio-thoracic surgical fellowship at Vanderbilt. Justin, Kristy and granddaughters Leona and Ginger are in Concord, NC where he is in his Vascular Surgical practice at Atrium Health. Wade and Cecilia were married on May 31 at the hospital chapel so that Carolyn could be present. Both are in different states as Wade finishes his orthopedic surgical residency in West Virginia and Cecilia continues medical school in Peoria, IL. Carolyn was known as “Tillie” to her grandchildren coined after her great-grandmother Leona.

Carolyn supported her boys in all of their endeavors, from cross country and track, to college, medical school, marriage, and beyond. They cherish the love and support their mother gave them, seeking to make her proud in their life and work accomplishments.

A Hawaiian themed memorial service will take place on June 12, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 at The Oaks Funeral Home at 1201 East Irving Park Road, Itasca, IL 60143. Carolyn’s favorite local Hawaiian band Hoapili will be playing. Guests are asked to wear happy, colorful and floral casual clothes to the memorial to celebrate Carolyn’s colorful life.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hidden Acres Safe Haven – a non-profit animal rescue farm in Dowagiac, MI where Carolyn adopted her beautiful cat Cleopatra. You can donate at their Facebook page or go to hiddenacressafehaven.org for more information.