Carol Robinson Barbieri

Carol Irene (Robinson) Barbieri was born in Tacoma, WA, on June 14, 1941, as the only child of Ken and Irene Robinson. When WW2 ended, the family moved to the Bay Area in California to be with other relatives, and Carol finished high school there in 1959. Carol then enrolled in Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA, in the fall of 1959. Early in October, she met Lou Barbieri in a choir class. He invited her out on a date to attend a Sunday evening church service. After that first date, they were together continually and were married on December 16, 1961, while Lou was a first-year student at Dallas Theological Seminary. Throughout their sixty-two plus years together, they lived in either Dallas or a suburb of Chicago.

Carol is survived by her husband, Lou; sister-in-law, Rena; sons, Jeff (Tamra), and Jason (Amanda); eight granddaughters; one grandson; three great-grandsons; and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ken and Irene, and her daughter Joanne.

Carol loved people and cared greatly about them. She was an extremely supportive wife and loving mother and grandmother, caring greatly about her home and children. She worked hard and successfully supported her husband through seminary. When her children were all in school, Carol returned to work part-time at Dallas public schools in various administrative roles. Many of her jobs were in some way related to doctor’s offices, and she was the best “front desk” person to greet you as you entered the office. Her warm smile was one of her beautiful qualities that made relationships with people easy. The New Commandment Sunday School she attended at the Orchard Evangelical Free Church was a great love, and so many special friends in her life came out of this class and other churches she has attended. Carol also had a great love for music and travel.

Above all things, she loved the Lord Jesus and was actively involved in various women’s Bible studies in churches throughout her life. Carol first met her Savior as a child, through a vacation Bible school at her Baptist church. Carol learned that she had a sinful heart and how Jesus Christ came into this world to offer Himself for that sin. Upon putting her faith in His accomplished work, she knew her heart was clean, and that one day she would walk on streets of gold with her Savior. This walk began on November 6, 2024, when around 3:00 PM, Carol took her last breath of earthly air and her first breath of heavenly air.

A memorial visitation will take place on Thursday, November 21 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL. A celebration of Carol's life will occur on Friday, November 22 at 11:00 AM with a visitation beginning at 9:30 AM until the time of service at the Orchard Evangelical Free Church, 1330 N Douglas Ave, Arlington Heights, IL.