Obituaries
Obituary for Carolee Farris
Carolee Farris, age 77, of Morton, IL, succumbed to lung cancer and passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 14th, 2017, with her family by her side at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home.
Carolee was born on January 31st, 1940 in LaSalle, IL, the middle daughter of Joe and Esther (Pozzi) Campeggio. Carolee met Gene Farris in Peoria, IL, on a blind date on October 30th, 1963. That was the beginning of a 53-year love affair. Carolee and Gene were married on June 20th, 1964, at St. Roch’s Catholic Church in LaSalle, IL. He preceded her in death on November 30th, 2016.
Carolee is survived by their three children: Gina (John) Wetzel of Peoria, IL, Scott (Alana) Farris of Plainfield, IL, and Mark Farris of Chicago, IL. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Matthew (Stacie) Wetzel, Daniel, and Jimmy Wetzel, and Ella, Patrick, and Andrew Farris; as well as her two sisters: Kathy Jo and Ron Lindner of Peru, IL, and Patricia Weberling of Berkeley, CA.
Preceding her in death were her grandparents, Joseph and Catherine (Perona) Campeggio and Geno and Lena (Gandolfi) Pozzi; her parents; and numerous aunts and cousins.
Carolee attended St. Patrick’s Grade School in LaSalle, IL for grades 1st through 5th, and graduated from Lincoln Grade School in LaSalle. She attended LaSalle-Peru High School, graduating in 1958. Carolee enjoyed taking dance lessons for many years at Mrs. Bellrose’s Studio. While in high school, Carolee was a L-P Cheerleader and worked at Jensen’s Jewelry Store and the LaSalle Pool as a summer lifeguard. After high school, Carolee was fortunate to receive a $500 scholarship from the Ladd, IL American Legion, which paid for her tuition, room and board, uniforms and caps to nursing school. She attended St. Francis Nursing School in Peoria, starting in August of 1958 and graduating on June 2nd, 1961.
Carolee’s professional career started at St. Francis Hospital in 1961 as a staff nurse on 2B. She took some time off to raise her children, and then in 1982, she returned to St. Francis where she cared for patients as a staff RN, in the GI Lab, in Patient Relations, and in Transport. In 2001, Carolee was thrilled to become a surgery hostess at the OSF Center for Health until her retirement on July 29th, 2005. Carolee was very proud of her 23 years of service to the Sisters and the mission of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. She also loved working for Peggy Kocher’s group, Nurses Caring For People, as a private duty nurse, helping many, many people over the years.
Carolee enjoyed participating and volunteering with the Holy Family Choir and Women’s Guild, her Discussion Group, the Academy-Spalding High School Parents Board, the Blessed Sacrament Altar and Rosary, the Itoo Society, the Saint Francis School of Nursing Alumni Association, and the Senior Saints. In the Spring of 2009, Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing presented Carolee the Ruby Cealey Distinguished Alumni Award for demonstrating caring, professionalism, leadership, community service and contributions to the profession.
Above everything, Carolee loved people! She enjoyed spending time at Wedgewood picnics, playing bridge, going on shopping bus trips, playing slot machines on the boat, going on cruises, spending winters in Florida, being with her family, and listening to her husband play the piano. But one of the biggest joys of her life was the Chicago Cubs! Carolee was a life-long Cub’s fan. She loved the announcers, as much as the Cub’s players, bringing many of them homemade treats and notes when she would go to Wrigley Field. And she especially loved the Cub’s World Series win in 2016!
Carolee’s funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 18th, 2017, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Morton, IL with Msgr. Gerald Ward as the celebrant. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17th, 2017, at Wright and Salmon Mortuary in Peoria. Further visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the mass, at Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial will follow the Mass in the Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Peoria, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the scholarship fund at the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, or the O.S.F. Richard L. Owens Hospice Home.
Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
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Carolee was born on January 31st, 1940 in LaSalle, IL, the middle daughter of Joe and Esther (Pozzi) Campeggio. Carolee met Gene Farris in Peoria, IL, on a blind date on October 30th, 1963. That was the beginning of a 53-year love affair. Carolee and Gene were married on June 20th, 1964, at St. Roch’s Catholic Church in LaSalle, IL. He preceded her in death on November 30th, 2016.
Carolee is survived by their three children: Gina (John) Wetzel of Peoria, IL, Scott (Alana) Farris of Plainfield, IL, and Mark Farris of Chicago, IL. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Matthew (Stacie) Wetzel, Daniel, and Jimmy Wetzel, and Ella, Patrick, and Andrew Farris; as well as her two sisters: Kathy Jo and Ron Lindner of Peru, IL, and Patricia Weberling of Berkeley, CA.
Preceding her in death were her grandparents, Joseph and Catherine (Perona) Campeggio and Geno and Lena (Gandolfi) Pozzi; her parents; and numerous aunts and cousins.
Carolee attended St. Patrick’s Grade School in LaSalle, IL for grades 1st through 5th, and graduated from Lincoln Grade School in LaSalle. She attended LaSalle-Peru High School, graduating in 1958. Carolee enjoyed taking dance lessons for many years at Mrs. Bellrose’s Studio. While in high school, Carolee was a L-P Cheerleader and worked at Jensen’s Jewelry Store and the LaSalle Pool as a summer lifeguard. After high school, Carolee was fortunate to receive a $500 scholarship from the Ladd, IL American Legion, which paid for her tuition, room and board, uniforms and caps to nursing school. She attended St. Francis Nursing School in Peoria, starting in August of 1958 and graduating on June 2nd, 1961.
Carolee’s professional career started at St. Francis Hospital in 1961 as a staff nurse on 2B. She took some time off to raise her children, and then in 1982, she returned to St. Francis where she cared for patients as a staff RN, in the GI Lab, in Patient Relations, and in Transport. In 2001, Carolee was thrilled to become a surgery hostess at the OSF Center for Health until her retirement on July 29th, 2005. Carolee was very proud of her 23 years of service to the Sisters and the mission of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. She also loved working for Peggy Kocher’s group, Nurses Caring For People, as a private duty nurse, helping many, many people over the years.
Carolee enjoyed participating and volunteering with the Holy Family Choir and Women’s Guild, her Discussion Group, the Academy-Spalding High School Parents Board, the Blessed Sacrament Altar and Rosary, the Itoo Society, the Saint Francis School of Nursing Alumni Association, and the Senior Saints. In the Spring of 2009, Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing presented Carolee the Ruby Cealey Distinguished Alumni Award for demonstrating caring, professionalism, leadership, community service and contributions to the profession.
Above everything, Carolee loved people! She enjoyed spending time at Wedgewood picnics, playing bridge, going on shopping bus trips, playing slot machines on the boat, going on cruises, spending winters in Florida, being with her family, and listening to her husband play the piano. But one of the biggest joys of her life was the Chicago Cubs! Carolee was a life-long Cub’s fan. She loved the announcers, as much as the Cub’s players, bringing many of them homemade treats and notes when she would go to Wrigley Field. And she especially loved the Cub’s World Series win in 2016!
Carolee’s funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 18th, 2017, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Morton, IL with Msgr. Gerald Ward as the celebrant. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17th, 2017, at Wright and Salmon Mortuary in Peoria. Further visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the mass, at Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial will follow the Mass in the Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Peoria, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the scholarship fund at the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, or the O.S.F. Richard L. Owens Hospice Home.
Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
Previous Events
Visitation
Tuesday
17
Oct
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Wright & Salmon Mortuary
2416 N. North Street
Peoria, IL 61604
Visitation
Wednesday
18
Oct
9:30 AM
- 10:30 AM
Blessed Sacrament Church
1020 S. First Ave.
Morton, IL 61550
Funeral Mass
Wednesday
18
Oct
10:30 AM
Blessed Sacrament Church
1020 S. First Ave.
Morton, IL 61550
Cemetery Details
Location
Resurrection Cemetery
7519 N. Allen Road
Peoria, IL 61614
Memorial Contribution
St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home
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