Carolyn “Carol” E. Calabrese, 74, passed away at home, Saturday, May 23, 2020 surrounded by family. A private family memorial service was held on May 26. A public Celebration of Life Memorial Gathering will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Machesney Park, IL. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Disabled Veterans, or the Wounded Warrior Project.
Carol was born in August 1945, in Osceola, Arkansas, the youngest of ten children born to Chester and Rhudell Pipkin. As a young girl, Carol professed her faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized at the age of nine. Growing up in East Arkansas, she was a fan of Elvis and Johnny Cash and spent time in Memphis TN. In the summer of 1963, while vacationing with a friend in Virginia, Carol met James “Jim” Calabrese at the US Marine Corp Base, Quantico, Virginia. They married in April 1964 in Queens, NY, Jim’s hometown. By then, Carol’s parents and a sister moved to North Park, IL. Reluctant to live in New York, Carol convinced Jim to move to Northern Illinois to be closer to her family. Together, they had three children, Tony, Tim, and Tanya.
She spent most of her professional career working at the Winnebago County Courthouse, then later at the Federal Bankruptcy Court. She retired after serving a second career as a Rockford School District bus driver.
Carol and Jim were involved parents and grandparents, spending many hours at Little League, baseball and football games, pom-pom practice, cheerleading events and dinner outings. She enjoyed traveling to New York, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida and the Caribbean. Carol had many lifelong friends and valued their everlasting friendships. Most of all, Carol enjoyed being at home with her family. Her kind and gentle spirit was evident with her family and friends. She always put other’s needs first and treated everyone with love and respect. She will truly be missed.
Carol is survived by her husband, Jim Calabrese; sons, Tony (Michelle) Calabrese, Tim (Fabienne) Calabrese; daughter, Tanya Ruiz; grandchildren, Victoria Calabrese, Megan (Abel) Ortiz, Anthony Calabrese, Mackenzie Calabrese, Gabriela (Dylan) Ritter, Leo Ruiz, Delphine and Phoebe Calabrese; great grandchildren, Emilio and Javi Ortiz; siblings, Mavis Sheffield, Ronald, Donald and Jesse Pipkin. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Chester, Raymond, Horace and Claude Pipkin; sister, Catherine Nuckolls.
We would like to thank Heartland Hospice for their kindness and compassion. On-line condolences may be expressed to the Calabrese family by visiting Carol’s obituary at www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com.
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