Carolyn (Caroline) Mills, 101, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2024.
She was born in Highwood, Illinois, on Nov. 27, 1922, the oldest of three children born to the late Alexander and Gina (nee Leonardi) DeBartolo. After graduating from Highland Park High School, Carolyn attended Iowa State University where she majored in Food Science, also known at the time as Nutritional Dietetics. During her time at Iowa State, she worked as a telephone operator on the Manhattan Project during World War II. After graduation she worked in Chicago, then moved to and worked in a hospital in New Orleans for a year, an experience in life and culture that stayed with her throughout her life. After she moved back to Illinois, she met her husband, Charles Mills.
Charles and Carolyn were married on Feb. 20, 1950. Charles farmed on his family’s farm in Mundelein, Illinois. After two years they moved to Kansasville, where they started their own farm. Through the years they farmed, and Carolyn worked at the Southern Wisconsin Center in Union Grove as a dietician. Through almost 50 years of marriage, they raised four children and traveled around the world. Carolyn was an avid reader, enjoyed painting and was a fabulous cook.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, brother and sister, and her husband Charles. She is survived by her children, Charlene, Christine (Tim) O’Brian, Corrine (Jerome) Herro and Eugene (Mary) Mills; grandchildren, Collin (Arianne) O’Brian, Conner O’Brian, Luke (Maddy) Herro, James (Liz) Herro, Seth (Cecelia) Mills, Kelsey (Tom) Kolkau, and Trenton Mills; and great grandchildren, Sloane, Cormac and Seamus, and Luca, Orianna and Lanetta.
The family will have a private service and burial at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery.
The family would especially like to thank the caregivers at Timber Oaks Assisted Living and Aurora Hospice for their tender and dedicated care.
Polnasek-Daniels Funeral Home is serving the family. Well-wishers may visit www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com.
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