When Carol A. Stefan moved to Palos Heights as a young mother, she did not simply relocate her family. She planted roots, opened her heart and quietly began building a community that would be shaped by her kindness for decades.
Stefan died Jan. 7 at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy defined by service, faith and an ever-present smile. Neighbors, colleagues and friends remember her not just as someone who volunteered, but as someone who made people feel seen, heard and welcome.
Born in Evanston and raised on Chicago’s North Side, Carol crossed what she jokingly called “the Rubicon” when she and her husband, Steve, moved south with their growing family in the early 1960s. The move marked her transition into a proud South Sider and the beginning of a lifelong devotion to Palos Heights.
As her children grew older, Carol found meaningful ways to give back. Education became one of her great passions. Nearly 25 years after moving to Palos Heights, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Xavier University in Mt. Greenwood. The journey was not always easy, and she freely admitted that statistics tested her patience. Perseverance carried her through, and she was deeply proud of what the degree represented.
Her time at Saint Xavier did not end at graduation. Carol later worked at the university as a continuing education counselor, supporting adult learners who, like her, were balancing school with life’s many responsibilities. Encouragement came naturally to her, and she became known as someone who genuinely cared about helping others succeed.
Civic involvement was another constant in Carol’s life. She served on the Palos Heights School District 128 board and remained active in the Parent Faculty Association, consistently advocating for students and families. Community traditions mattered deeply to her, and she played an instrumental role in organizing the Palos Heights Fourth of July parade. The celebration reflected the neighborhood spirit she cherished and echoed fond memories from her own childhood. She also helped organize a local Fourth of July block party, turning the holiday into a shared experience that brought neighbors together.
Carol’s service extended well beyond schools and parades. She was active in the Palos Women’s Club and the League of Women Voters. Her volunteer work included time at what is now Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital and with Meals on Wheels, where she quietly helped residents in need. She even became a familiar face on local cable public access television, interviewing business owners and advocating enthusiastically for local shops as an on-air personality.
Faith anchored every part of Carol’s life. A devout Catholic, she was a longtime member of Saint Alexander Catholic Church in Palos Heights. Her roles there included reader, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, CCD teacher and fundraiser organizer. A Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1993 was among her most meaningful travels and remained close to her heart.
Beyond her service, Carol was known for her joy. Holidays were her favorite, any excuse to celebrate, dress the part and wear perfectly themed jewelry. Music filled her life, especially Broadway and Barbra Streisand, often sung at full volume while driving with the top down on her convertible. Tennis was another passion, one she pursued competitively well into her 70s before enthusiastically embracing pickleball.
Family was always at the center of her world. Carol is survived by her five children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Steve, along with her parents and siblings. She was a mother not only to her own children but to countless others who passed through her home and her life.
Though Palos Heights has lost one of its most devoted champions, Carol Stefan’s presence remains woven into the community she loved. Her kindness, generosity and unwavering faith continue to echo in the lives she touched and the town she helped make feel like home.