Carol E Egan

Carol Elizabeth Egan was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on December 17th, 1930, the only child of the late Samuel and Myrtie (nee Peterson) Shunneson. She passed peacefully on August 22, 2026. Carol was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Francis “Frank” Egan, and leaves behind daughters Elaine (late John) Carrington, Claire (Gary) Schmitz, Gail (Kent) Walker; grandchildren Jake Walker, Brendan Walker, Samuel Schmitz, Henry (Luis) Schmitz, Natalie (Kevin) Carrington Cowan, Sophie Carrington; and great-granddaughter Daphne Cowan.

Growing up in Oak Park, Carol enjoyed life as a tomboy, climbing trees and garage roofs, visiting relatives on family farms in Wisconsin, and spending time with her 31 first cousins and extended family. While attending Oak Park High School, Carol participated in many sports, including basketball, archery, volleyball, tennis, and field hockey. She was also active in theater, although always behind the scenes. During this time, she discovered her talent for languages and became her French teacher’s favorite student. In the summers, Carol worked as a camp counselor at Eleanor Camp in Wisconsin, which she enjoyed despite getting 81 mosquito bites one summer! After spending a year at North Park College in Chicago, Carol headed to the University of Illinois in Champaign, where she completed her B.S. in Microbiology in 1953. While there, Carol joined Alpha Phi sorority and made lifelong friends.

After graduation, Carol worked in Research & Development at the Kendall Company in Chicago and received a team patent for work on non-stick bandages. As a valued employee, Carol was granted leave for a 3-month trip to Europe with her college friend Bish. They sailed from NYC, then bought a Volkswagen Beetle and drove across most of Western Europe while experiencing many crazy adventures! Carol also met her future husband, Frank, while both worked at Kendall. They had a long courtship, playing bridge and going to the beach at lunch. They also took ski trips up north and out west, culminating in an unfortunate tumble in Aspen, Colorado, where Carol broke her leg. Frank showered her with attention, and during her recovery, they realized they were meant to be together. Carol and Frank were married on May 20, 1961, and moved into an apartment in the Austin area of Chicago. The following year, Carol left Kendall to be a full-time stay-at-home mom shortly before their first baby, Elaine, was born. They soon bought a house in Arlington Heights (where they ultimately resided for almost 60 years), and the family grew with the addition of daughters Claire and Gail.

Carol and Frank supported their daughters through their school years, including Girl Scouts and sports teams. The family took many trips to the southern and east coasts of the USA, and even to England, with Carol leading most of the planning. At home, Frank often praised her “gourmet meals”, and the aromas of delicious fresh baked bread and other treats frequently filled the house. Carol volunteered at Ridge School, even singing in silly skits in the annual Variety Show! Outside the home, she also volunteered with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Arlington Heights Memorial Library (where she received the U.S. President’s Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award for 4000 hours of service). Carol played in various bridge groups and participated in opera study groups. She enjoyed going to downtown Chicago to attend operas, the symphony, museums, and theater. Carol and Frank made many close neighborhood friends, and the sound of their laughter would fill the air on warm summer nights. Carol and her neighbor Karen even had a small business called “Witty Ditties & Company”

where they wrote personalized greetings and sang them over the phone! To round it out, Carol also played golf and tennis and took aerobics classes. One of her proudest achievements (which she loved to brag about) was getting a hole-in-one at Stonehenge Golf Club.

Once their daughters graduated from college, married, and had children, Carol and Frank became doting grandparents to their 6 grandchildren. They spent many hours babysitting and attending their sporting events and recitals. The kids knew they could always visit “Grandma’s closet” for a new trinket or toy whenever they visited.

Upon Frank’s retirement, the couple traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe, and even Thailand. They made many new friends participating in Elderhostel tours, but also took time for annual lakeside summer vacations with family. Carol believed in lifelong learning and took numerous foreign language and writing classes. She also followed current events and enjoyed her daily New York Times and crossword puzzles.

In 2022, Carol and Frank downsized to Church Creek Independent Living in Arlington Heights, where they made many new friends while maintaining old connections. Carol took advantage of the in-house physical therapy and personal trainers and was very proud to participate up to four times per week! Sadly, Frank passed away in May 2025, but Carol kept busy with new friendships and enjoyed movies, musical performances, sing-a-longs, and her ever-present jigsaw puzzles. She was very excited to welcome her great-granddaughter, Daphne, in April of this year.

Carol leaves her family and friends with a legacy of caring for others. She was ahead of her time in her career, her volunteer work in the community, and her support of causes dear to her heart. She was truly a role model to her daughters, grandchildren, and others. Still, she had a fun, silly side and was known for her sense of humor and infectious laugh.

The family would like to thank Fox Rehab and all the other staff at Church Creek for their excellent care and assistance, and especially her personal caregivers, Cristhine and Rechelle, for their special attention over the last year. Carol will be laid to rest next to her dear Frank and other family members at Graceland Cemetery, Chicago. Thanks go to Lauterburg-Oehler Funeral Home in Arlington Heights for handling the arrangements. The family will hold a private celebration of life at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Carol’s name may be made to the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, the Negaunee Music Institute of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or a charity of your choice.