Carol Ann (Beck) Allard

Carol Ann (Beck) Allard’s magnificent life ended on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 9:04 a.m., her loving family holding her hands and quietly singing her favorite Christmas hymns to her. From hanging ornaments on the tree to enjoying the twinkling lights around town to choosing special Christmas gifts for everyone, Carol loved everything about this time of year.

Carol was born on July 28, 1949, in Danville, Illinois, to Jacob S. and Agnes (Drullinger) Beck. She was the oldest of their five daughters, relishing her role as big sister to Sue, Mary, Jean, and Jane and spending many hours playing school with them, where she cast herself in the role of teacher and her sisters as her pupils. From an early age, Carol not only loved teaching but also music. Her first instrument was the piano, though the violin soon called to her, Carol following in her Pappy Beck’s footsteps as she learned the strings and bow. She also played handbells and adored singing, her warm contralto timbre enriching many choirs over the years. Carol attended Roselawn Elementary, Northridge Middle School, and Schlarman High School in Danville, where she played timpani and snare drums in the marching band and graduated in the class of 1967.

Carol then attended Eastern Illinois University, where she earned her BS in Education. She loved her time in college, particularly her coursework in elementary ed, curriculum and design, and art. During her senior year at Eastern, Carol was honored by her professors and peers with the Woman of the Year Award for 1970–1971. Carol chose fifth and sixth grade for her student teaching practicum. She always said it was because students at that age were on the cusp of adolescence but still in touch with the curiosity and imagination of childhood.

After graduation, Carol returned to her hometown of Danville, where she began teaching at Garfield Elementary School under the mentorship of her beloved principal, Mrs. Margaret Ward, and Superintendent, Dr. Dave Fields. She taught fifth and sixth grade at Garfield for seven years, where she served as unit leader and curriculum coordinator for science and reading.

At the end of her seventh year of teaching, Carol’s father Jacob Beck, co-founder of the family business Danville Metal Stamping, asked her if she would be willing to take a leap into the unknown and become the new head of Human Resources at DMS. He told Carol that her classroom management and educational leadership skills were easily transferable to the business world, and Carol soon found out that he was right.

Carol greatly enjoyed her time in HR and it was during this period that the classmate whose locker happened to be right next to hers during her four years at Schlarman, Gregory Allard, returned to Danville, after proudly serving in the US Navy. Greg invited Carol out for a drink and conversation, that conversation soon leading to dating. Dating led to their engagement, with Carol and Greg confirming their love through a beautiful marriage ceremony at St. Paul’s Church on July 5, 1980.

After they were married, Carol chose to stay at home with her growing family while Greg became Director of Human Resources at Danville Metal. They soon welcomed daughter Aimee into the world on January 31, 1983, and son Erik on January 3, 1985. Carol always said that her favorite career was being a mom to her children, and what a marvelous mom she was, rocking her kids when they were sick, reading them stories, making up silly songs, and letting them play percussion on her pots and pans. When Aimee and Erik were in preschool and elementary school, Carol took an active role as room mother, her background in education greatly appreciated by Erik and Aimee’s teachers. Carol served in the PTA, as leader of Junior Great Books, and in numerous other roles.

Outside of the home and school setting, Carol was active in many different clubs. She loved to play Bunco, and if there was a card game of Crazy Eights or Euchre, you could be sure to find her at the table, cracking jokes and strategizing. Carol was also passionate about volunteering, serving in the Daughters of Isabella (D of I) with her mother, Agnes, and grandmother, Clarice.

In 1994, Carol, Greg, Erik, and Aimee moved from Danville to sunny Naples, Florida. In Florida, Carol continued her volunteer work in education while her children attended Vineyards Elementary, Pine Ridge Middle, and Barron Collier High School. She also continued her service work with the CCW at St. Williams and St. John’s Catholic Church. In 2006, she proudly began serving as the Vice President of Southwest Florida EcoTours, which she and her husband founded in their adopted home of Naples and ran successfully for eight years.

Carol’s indomitable spirit never wavered even in the face of illness and mobility challenges. She was especially proud of her children and never failed to tell them so. When Erik earned his first Bachelor’s of Science in Management from Florida Gulf Coast University and later, a second Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Information Systems, she was nearly bursting with pride. When Aimee earned her BA and MA from Florida Gulf Coast University and her PhD in English from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, she was busting her buttons (she particularly enjoyed colloquialisms), and, though the journey was difficult, she was there with bells on to see Aimee accept her doctorate. Carol also dearly loved her son-in-law, Dr. John-Paul Ore, and thought the world of him. When Aimee and John-Paul married in Lincoln, Nebraska, on May 11, 2019, Carol was tickled to be part of their wedding. She loved being pampered with a professional hair and makeup session and told us again recently how beautiful she felt that day. She made the loveliest mother of the bride in her royal purple dress. Aimee and John-Paul were so very happy that Carol was able to be there for their wedding, her presence a highlight of that special day.

In her final years, Carol loved spending time with her family, enjoying Aimee’s Christmas cookies and home-cooked meals when she and John-Paul visited. She looked forward to Erik’s weekly visits and Sunday meals with him and Greg. She savored her nightly conversations with Greg and holding hands with him as they drifted off to dreamland. She always said that she would fall asleep saying prayers for every family member and finish saying them when she awoke, Carol’s Catholic faith a touchstone during her life.

Her family felt blessed that she was able to spend her final days in comfort at Avow Hospice, their compassionate care allowing her and her family to share many stories, songs, handholds, and hugs together. We loved and admired Carol so much and are grateful we were able to tell her how much she meant to us in those final moments, her magnetic glow still resonating in all who were privileged to know her.

Carol is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Gregory; her son, Erik; her daughter, Aimee; and her son-in-law, John-Paul; as well as her sisters, Sue Beck, Mary Peck, Jean Beck, and Jane Edel; a dear sister-in-law, Janis Allard; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her and Greg’s infant son, Christopher; her parents, Jacob and Agnes; her grandparents; many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins; and her brother-in-law, Richard Allard.

There will be a Catholic Mass will be held May 18th at 11am at St William Catholic Church of Naples please see the link to view the Mass live at St. Williams https://www.youtube.com/live/GX6UPJz4U9U?si=PXUW2tpfL204t8Bx and Celebration of Life for Carol this spring in Naples, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in Carol’s memory to St. Matthew’s House, the Parkinson’s Foundation, Avow Hospice, or a charity of your choice.

Carol was the kindest, biggest-hearted person you could ever meet and was truly the best of all of us. So please take a moment to share a joke with your loved ones, smell a yellow rose (her favorite), or sing a Christmas carol in her honor. She was a teacher through and through and continues to teach us even now, her warm voice and laughter echoing in our hearts and minds forever.