Carol M. Schafer

Carol M. Schafer, age 86, of Kankakee, passed away Saturday, September 30, 2023 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee. She was born December 24, 1936 in Kankakee, the third daughter of Frederick Eugene & Cecile (Richard) Brault. Carol graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in 1954. She married Gene Richard “Dick” Schafer on May 6, 1961 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. They were married for 56 years. He preceded her in death on April 28, 2017. Carol was employed by Illinois Bell Telephone Company until 1984. At the time of divestiture of Bell System, she was later employed by Bell Credit Union and retired from Armour Credit Union in September 2007. Carol was a board member of the Kankakee Valley Chapter of Credit Unions, a member of St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary, and a volunteer at the hospital. She belonged to the Gourmet Dinner Club and Quadrille Dance Club. Carol enjoyed playing cards and belonging to many clubs throughout the years. She was an avid reader. Carol loved entertaining dinner guests in their home and enjoyed traveling within the US and abroad. She liked to ballroom dance and spent some winter months in Florida. Carol was a parishioner of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church and CCW for 35 years. She was also a parishioner of Maternity B.V.M. Catholic Church and served on the CCW and Outreach Program. Most of all, Carol enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Gary & Cheryl Schafer of Crystal Lake; one daughter and son-in-law, Katy & Doug Leider of Wood Dale; five grandchildren, Danielle Schafer of San Diego, CA, Derek and Megan Schafer of Crystal Lake, and Ryan Leider of San Antonio, TX and Lauren Leider of Wood Dale; and one sister-in-law, June Brault of Edgecomb, ME. In addition to her husband, Carol is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters and two brothers-in-law, Monica & Maurice Lambert and Joyce & Robert Cosgrove; and two brothers and one sister-in-law, Richard Brault and Joel & Patricia Brault. Visitation will be held from 9-10:45 a.m. on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., also on Saturday, at Maternity B.V.M. Catholic Church in Bourbonnais. Entombment will follow at All Saints Cemetery in Bourbonnais. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made for masses. Carol’s family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Westwood and Butterfield Assisted Living and to the doctors and nurses at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee for their loving care and compassion.

Carol M. Schafer

December 24, 1936 - September 30, 2023