Carol Lord

Carol Lord passed away peacefully on February 28, 2025, leaving us with full hearts, many tears, and enough stories to keep us laughing (and crying) for years to come. She also left us with the impossible task of living up to her incredible ability to love fiercely, her deep and unwavering faith, and her unmatched talent for turning any gathering into a party.

Carol was the beloved wife of the late Bob Evans, and the fiercely loving mother of Barbara (Peter), Martin, Brian (Stephen), and the late Rob. She cherished her role as Little Grandma to AJ (Jenna), Mary Kate (Scott), and Ben (Mackenzie) — bringing her endless joy, laughter, and a whole new generation to share her love (and her famous overdone garlic bread recipe). Her great-grandchildren — Raymond, Charlie, Emmy, and Molly — will grow up hearing all the stories, sharing in her legacy, and will undoubtedly be watched over with love from above.

Carol always found room in her heart (and at her table) for her many, many nieces and nephews, who knew her not just as an aunt, but also as a true friend.

A welcoming committee is already waiting to greet her in heaven, including her husband Bob, her son Rob, son-in-law Duane, her parents Lucy and Willis, and her siblings Jack (Marian), William, Jimmy (Leona), Mary, Jerry (Peggy), Joanne (Lonnie), Sr. Barbara CSJ, and Tommy (Diane) — along with a host of others, likely ready with cocktails in hand.

Carol’s unshakable faith guided her through every chapter of life —joyful, heartbreaking, and everything in between. She was a proud graduate of Trinity High School, Class of 1953, and an enthusiastic and beloved member of every community she touched, whether in Elmhurst, Lake Geneva, or among her Wall Street Journal family. For nearly 25 years, she was a successful sales executive and the official work mom to countless colleagues — who knew if you worked with Carol, you had a lifelong friend (and probably at least one hilarious story to tell).

Of all the wonderful friendships Carol nurtured, none was more treasured than her best friend, Pat Day. Through every stage of life, they laughed, cried, and supported each other — a friendship for the ages.

If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Carol Lord, you didn’t forget her — and we certainly never will. She had a gift for lighting up a room with her laugh, her kindness, her unmatched ability to make everyone feel welcome, and, of course, her very fancy white wine spritz in hand.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be held on Saturday, March 22 at St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church 137 Dewey Ave, Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, with visitation at 12:00 pm and Mass at 1:00 pm.

Because one party was never enough for Carol, a second celebration (an open house) will be held in Elmhurst, Illinois on March 29. For details, please contact [email protected].

In honor of Carol, raise a glass (white wine or spritz, naturally), tell a story, and know she’s watching — probably with commentary — from above.

(In place of flowers, donations to Trinity High School, 7574 Division, River Forest, Illinois, 60305, in memory of Carol Lord, Class of 1953, would be appreciated.)