Lois M. Carp

Lois M. Carp, formerly of Westville, IL, passed away on March 20, 2016 at the age of 97 in Eugene, OR. Lois was born on 7 April 1918 in Westville, daughter of Peter and Gertrude Possolt Sole. In 1942 she was married at St. Mary's Church to Anthony V. ("Babe") Carp, who preceded her in death in 1983. If you asked Lois her proudest achievement in life, she would always say it was raising her seven children: Maryann (Daniel) Desaulniers of Milwaukee, WI, Tony Carp Jr. (Julie Anne Stoike) of Eugene, OR, John Carp, D.C., (Jean) of Emigrant, MT, Carmela Carp, of Bozeman, MT, Lisa Carp (Emil Yappert) of Niwot, CO, Joe Carp (Karen) of Cartersville, GA, and Chris Laurion (Hans Beernink) of Eugene, OR. Lois was also a proud grandmother of Lt. Col. Linn Desaulniers, South Korea, Elise Desaulniers Haschker, Shorewood, WI, Barry Carp, Denver, CO, Erin Carp Wharton, Palatine, IL, Luara Karlson-Carp, University of Melbourne, Australia, Aaron Yappert, Middleburg College, Annika Yappert, Colorado State University, Chelsey Carp, Knoxville TN, Sydney Carp Shadle, Dallas, GA, and Christopher Laurion (Megan), Richland, WA. She was also a loving grandmother to her granddaughter recently deceased Kyra Carp Karr. Lois is also survived by ten great grandchildren, ages one to six. Westville was Lois' home for 72 years. She moved to the Milwaukee area in 1990 to be near her daughter, Maryann, and then to Cartersville, GA, in 2007 to be near her son, Joe, and also to be closer to Ft. Myers Beach, FL, where she spent the winters. In 2010 she moved to a retirement home in Eugene, OR, to be near her son, Tony, and daughter, Chris. She enjoyed good health until the past year and was well attended to by Tony and Chris. Lois graduated from Westville High School and began working as a secretary, stenographer to Danville attorney, Louis Clements. She quit seven years later when she joined her husband in Lubbock, TX, who was a physical training instructor in the Army Air Corps. Twenty-five years later when her children were all in school, she resumed her legal career in Danville, joining Gunn, Hickman, Kessler, Jenkins, and Vogel in para legal work, not missing one stroke of her shorthand or typing which she had kept up over the years, writing the grocery list in short hand to call into Carp's Store or typing up the "who was visiting in Westville column" for the Westville News. At age 50, Lois first learned to drive and also took up golf so she could join her husband on the course. She played continuously until she was 89! However, the activity she cared for the most was belonging to the Danville Sweet Adelines for 20 years. She loved music, singing and dancing all her life. She so enjoyed being in the shows that the Sweet Adelines performed each year and attending the conventions all over the U.S. with her husband going along as a big supporter. On Lois' 80th birthday, her family joined her in Ft. Myers Beach for a reunion in a vacation beach house. For her 90th birthday, she personally arranged for a dinner reunion/celebration at the Danville Harrison Golf Club House which was attended by over a hundred family members and guests. The Sweet Adelines sang! Lois was well-loved by her children and she was a friend to many. She was always ready for a gathering of family and friends, especially when there was a piano involved and someone close by who knew how to play it. When asked the secret to her longevity, she always replied: "No matter where I was in life, I was always content." She was not one to "sweat the small stuff" and her favorite word was "Whatever!" always delivered with a laugh and a smile. This wonderful matriarch of the family will be sorely missed. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org). Visitation will be on Saturday, APRIL 23, 2016 from 11:00 - 12:30 at Sunset-Urbas Funeral Chapel, Westville, followed by a Funeral Mass at 1:00 at St. Mary's Church, Fr. Richard Desaulniers presiding. Burial will be after the Funeral Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Visitation Apr 23, 2016 Saturday, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Sunset-Urbas Funeral Chapel 414 S. State Street Westville, IL 61883 Service Apr 23, 2016 Saturday, 1:00 PM St. Mary's Catholic Church 231 N State St Westville, Illinois 61883 Final Resting Place Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery Westville Westville, IL 61883