Carol M. Diews (1936-2020)

DIEWS, MILLER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 10/22/2020 at 09:08:52

Carol Marguerite Diews, 84, of Galena, died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, at the Galena-Stauss Nursing Home, a casualty of the Covid-19 Pandemic. A graveside service will take place at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28 at Acacia Park Cemetery, 7800 W. Irving Park Rd., Norridge, Ill. Face masks will be required and social distancing protocols observed.

She was born on October 8, 1936 in Oak Park, Ill., to Paul F. and Ada (Miller) Diews. She grew up on Chicago’s northwest side and graduated from Carl Schurz High School in 1954. She enjoyed a long career as an accountant with the Chicago area apartment rental agency, Preston A. Higgins & Co., Inc.

Among Galena’s first recipients of a mortgage for historic restoration, Carol and her brother Robert purchased an 1830s inn in the early 1960s, and transformed it into a beautiful weekend home, which the Galena/Jo Daviess Historical Society twice featured on its house tours. After retirement, it became her year-round residence.

An avid reader and patron of the Galena Public Library, Carol volunteered many years with the library’s Friends group sorting books for its annual sale. She was a world traveler who was among the earliest Americans to visit China when it opened to Western tourists in the early 1960s, and she visited Russia before and after the fall of the Soviet Union. Her journeys also took her throughout North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Africa, too. When not reading or packing a suitcase, she could often be found glued to her TV cheering the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears.

A dog lover particularly fond of Schnauzers, her other hobbies included gardening, playing cards and word games. She had no children of her own, but anyone close to her was treated as a member of her “family.” She never missed sending them birthday greetings.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents and brother. She leaves no survivors.

Miller Funeral Home, East Dubuque, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials in Carol’s name are requested for the Galena Public Library (www.galenalibrary.org).

Her friends and neighbors would like to thank the staff at Galena-Stauss Assisted Living and Nursing Home for the wonderful, loving care they gave Carol.