Carol Jean Castor

She graduated from Buckhart grade school and Rochester High School. She worked for Strong's Cafeteria and Illinois Bell, in Springfield, before marriage, and later worked at the Catholic Supply Store and as a Realtor for Barber, Gebben & Smolenski. Her favorite job, however, was caring for her grandkids.

She married William E. Castor, Jr. on Sep. 7, 1957. Soon afterwards they moved into the Parish of the Blessed Sacrament, which remained a part of their extended family. She has five children: Karen (Chuck) Starling, Barb (Doug) Mitchell, William III (Linda Lee) Castor, Chris (Dave) Nation, and Beth (Alex) Young, all of Springfield.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings: Doris Corlas, Fred "Mike" Welch, Wayne Welch, Shirlee Brant and Rob Welch; nephew Jim Venturini, Niece Roseanne Eschenfeldt, and her beloved terrier Pebbles Duchess.

She is survived by her husband; children; a sister, Bernadine Venturini; grandchildren: Ben, Tara, and Claire Starling, Jake and Julia Mitchell, Jennifer Doering, David Castor, Jessica Larson, Christopher, Cassie, Nick (Anne), and Bri Nation, Coco (Michael Rivera), Mick, and Mathew Young; great grandchildren Gage, Carter, Jocelyn, Riley, Colton; and many nieces and nephews.

Carol is remembered as a loving, caring and compassionate wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her Catholic faith and her family were the center of her life. She enjoyed swimming, boating and waterskiing with family and friends at the Springfield Motor Boat Club, was active in several church groups, enjoyed bridge and bunco with friends, being social with family, friends and neighbors, and Pease's candy.

Visitation and Funeral Mass: The family will receive friends from 3 p.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1700 S. Walnut St., Springfield.

A private burial will be held.