Carol Keith

Carol Keith, of Sandwich, Illinois, passed away on November 27th, 2025 at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora with her family by her side.

Carol was born in Hinsdale, Illinois to Paul and Ruth McQueen on April 1st,1957. She is a graduate of West Aurora High School class of 1975. She was united in marriage to Frank Keith on July 28th, 2000, in Kendall County Illinois. She was proud to work in surgery at Mercy Hospital back in the 80s. She retired from Oswego School District in 2013, where she spent a long and happy career as a School a Bus Driver.

Carol is preceded in death by her father, Paul Mcqueen, her mother, Ruth McQueen, her infant sister, Linda Mcqueen, her fur babies, Trixi, Scooter, Koko, Tiger and Meatball and her beloved Grand’s, Aunts, uncles and her father’s close companion, Edith.

She leaves behind her loving family, including her spouse, Frank Keith, her dog, Ginger, her daughter, Breena Jackson and her significant other Angel Ness, her sister, Mary Klein, and her Brother, Dave McQueen. She loved and adored her chosen Granddaughter, Nyasia Hambrick, and her Grand-Fur-Babies, Leydei, Joey, Prince and The Twins. Her niece, Katie Klein Harris, and her nephews, Ryan and Michael McQueen, Her extended family, Melissa Freitag, who she loved like a daughter. Her closest friends, Kristine Heiman, Eric Anderson, Leanne Beasley, Kathy Lapp and many more. Special thanks to Cathy Entile for checking in on her throughout the last year and keeping her in your prayers.

Now that the formal part is over I would like to take a moment and express my gratitude and give those who may not have known her a little better understanding of who my mom is and the impression she forever has left on my heart.

Dear Mama, thank you for teaching me the meaning of life. Thank you for being my shining star whenever I felt lost, and for loving me every day regardless of the messes I made. I still swear Koko spilled the tomato juice on your white carpet. You never believed me. But it is the honest truth. Your heart is everything I hold onto. Even if you believed the Dog over me. I feel it in every move that I make. Love is not taught, it is felt, and love is only felt by someone who loves actively and endlessly. I mean you embarrassed me a lot growing up, but I always kissed you back no matter who was around. You taught me how to trust, how not to trust. You taught me how to ask but also taught me not to beg. You taught me how holding the door is more important for a stranger than expecting the door to be held for one’s self. You taught me the importance of saying bless you and the importance of a goodnight kiss and the genuine comfort and warmth from a hug. You taught me how to care. How to cry, and most importantly how to feel. You taught me how to stand up for others and how to stand up for myself. You raised me to be humble. You raised me to be kind. Regardless of what life asks out of us you made the message simple, handle each situation with pride. You always told me, “If you walked away embarrassed then you messed up." You taught me that an apology does not make you weak but helps you grow and that taking responsibility for a mistake is accepting growth. You taught me to accept all people and not to shy away, that all are worthy of being cared about, and that caring is a simple and selfless act and that it is selfish to care and expect something back. You taught me the power of what a simple compliment to someone can hold. You taught me the comfort of a nice gesture. You taught me equality. You taught me that the most valuable things in life are not things you buy. You taught me to never turn my back on the challenges that face me, but to also be smart enough to know the difference and when to walk away. You taught me patience and impatience. You taught me grudges are meant to feel not hold and that forgiveness is peace. You taught me how to take, but not to be greedy. You taught me to be my own voice and how to be courageous. You taught me acceptance and values. You taught me the core principles of the word Judgment. You taught me how to love myself and to not allow others to hold any power to myself. You taught me honesty and compassion. You taught me how to accept someone for who they are just as I would want to be accepted. You taught me the values of friendship, family and marriage and you taught me the value of upholding a tradition. And the importance of creating memories. You taught me strength by showing me every day, you taught me dignity, you taught me drive. You taught me how to be a voice. And with this voice I want you to know, I am so proud to be your daughter. You are a fighter and remained a lover and a jokester. I'm still funnier. You truly are my best friend. I knew losing you was going to be hard the silence is noticed, but I find peace in all of our conversations and being able to replay them in my head. I hear you. I find peace in knowing you did the best you could and I am so so proud. You are my superhero. You are my candlelight. Every step. Everyday, even when I’m throwing my arms up at the sky asking why... I remind myself, I cannot be selfish. I cannot blame. I cannot be angered. I am proud, I have to be strong. I will break and that’s ok. I will make mistakes along the way. I will be the reason today someone else smiles. Because that is how you raised me. Our bond is unbreakable so bring it on.. I am blessed. I am blessed because of you. I love you, with every bit of my being and every ounce of my sole. I am grateful for the moments we shared the memories we have and I am grateful I know the true meaning of love. I know you are with me as I am with you. This is not goodbye, this is see ya later. To my Superhero, my best friend, I hope you are resting in the most deserved peace. I love you mama forever and always. -Your baby.

See, my mom was funny, outgoing, came with a little side of crazy, my type of crazy, loved to cook and bake. She was never scared to try a new recipe, even if it didn’t turn out, majority of the time it did, however there was always a plan B. She was a beast on a grill, a champion with a stove and she wasn't afraid of grease on a fire pit. She loved gardening and being outdoors, she loved to travel. She loved water, swimming, boating and roasting marshmallows. She always said there was nothing better then the smell of burning leaves and firewood. She loved fun random activities and was always down for something competitive. She loved Rollercoasters and carnival rides, antiquing and craft shows, she loved, loved, loved, to decorate. She loved museums and zoos, moons and stars and had a deep interest in space. If she saw an animal hurt, we stopped to help, if she saw an animal wandering we stopped to help. She loved hearts and Hallmark movies on Valentines Day, Eggs from Fannie Mae on Easter, hugs and kisses for Mother’s Day, Fireworks and BBQ in July. Haunted Houses in October and she especially loved Thanksgiving Christmas and New Years all of which hold sacred tradition. My mom loved to surprise people but also loved being surprised, she loved board games and family time. She loved meeting new people. My mom loved trying new restraunts and staying hip with the new trends ex: Deals and Steals on GMA, Oprah's favorite things.. It took my mom a long time to except that I was never going to wear glittery boots, honestly not sure if she ever did. Sorry mom. She never missed a Bath and Body works sale. She never missed a chance to shop. She was proud she perfected how to use a Roku without asking me for help. She loved having her hair done and always had her nails done. She loved her cars. The only lady I know that has the purchasing catalogs the ones with the pictures to a majority of her cars she has owned in a tote from the 70s till now. She had some pretty cool ones a few of which I have never let her down for selling. She would give a stranger a blanket and a friend a room. She never left anyone out. She did not hesitate to provide a sense of safety, security, love and laughter. She is the April fool. So If your reading this hug your loved one, send that message, kiss your mama, kiss your child, hug your dad, love your sibling, make that call, forgive your partner, let your dog on the couch, call your best friend. Take that trip. Make that recipe, decorate, embrace traditions, enjoy the holidays, take time off. Create a new memory. Lookout for your neighbor. Go to that party. Buy those boots. Life is short, time does not last forever, embrace life’s journey and fill it with love. Be kind to one another be the reason someone else smiles. That is her legacy. That is how she would want to be honored. Not for who she was but for who you can still be. That is my mom. That is the forever loved Carol Keith.

Thank you to Beverage Family Funeral Home in Sandwich for upholding my mom’s wishes.

There will be a celebration of life at a further date that will be sent out separately.

Memorials can be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Big thank you to the Doctors and the Nurses at Rush Copley of Aurora for providing exceptional care, comfort, honesty and compassion. Thank you to the Chaplin that stayed with us but also knew when to leave.

Thank you to her entire team at Hillside Rehab and Care Center in Yorkville for providing her with hope. Thank you to each and every one of you for caring for her and treating her as you would if it was your family member. I will forever be grateful for all of you that made a difference and the extra amount of time I got with her because of it.

This is our prayer

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.