Carol F Derken

On March 9th, 2023, Carol Florence Derken (nee Kustka) passed away peacefully at the age of 91 after a long battle with dementia. She was born on December 18th, 1931, in Evanston, IL. Carol married Thomas Frank Derken on 09/27/1952 and they moved to Des Plaines, IL in 1954 where she lived for 69 years and raised her family. Carol was preceded in death by her husband Tom Derken, daughter Linda Bessen, sister Luella Mosher, and brother Edward “Sonny” Kustka. She is survived by her children, Karen (Bob Senger) Derken, Laura Kowalski, Thomas (Lisa) Derken, Janet (Jerry) Molepske and her son in law Terry Bessen. She was a loving grandmother to Amy (Paul) Lashuk, Melissa (Yancy) Warm, Colton Kowalski, Katie Kowalski, Kayla (Christopher) Scheidt and Tommy Derken. Loving Great Grandmother to Benjamin and Jacob Lashuk, Finnigan, Cash, Knox, and Penelope Warm, Kingsley and Jameson Kowalski. Carol was an exceptional wife and mother and cared deeply for her family. She loved to cook and bake and was known for her blueberry muffins and Christmas cookies. She would make over 5,000 cookies to share with family and friends over the Christmas holiday which was her favorite time of the year. She was a lifelong Cubs fan and went to many games. She was thrilled to see her beloved Cubbies finally win the World Series in 2016. Carol also loved to garden, planting flowers and vegetables each spring. She would plant eight plus tomato plants along the driveway every year and have enough tomatoes to share with the neighborhood. A visitation for Carol will be held Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, March 16, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Emily Catholic Church, 1400 E Central Road, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056. A committal service will occur Thursday, March 16, 2023 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at All Saints Cemetery Chapel, 700 N. River Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Alzheimer’s Association. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.OehlerFuneralHome.com for the Derken family.