Carol J. O'Brien

Carol Jean Nulk O’Brien was born August 25, 1926 in Waukegan Illinois to Laura Lillian and Henry Louis Nulk. Her parents later gave birth to one younger sister, Joyce Virginia. Carol was raised in Waukegan during the depression with her parents. Her father was a tool and die maker and her mother was an employee with Civil Service.

Her first job as a young girl was picking berries on a farm. She graduated high school and worked for Nauta Insurance Company in Waukegan. She frequented USO dances during the war and became a supportive wife to three navy men in her lifetime. She later labored with her husband at Russell License Service as a working mother.

Carol married Robert D. Russell of West Virginia at age 20 in 1947 and gave birth to two girls, Judith Ann and Kim Renee. She subsequently married Clifton C. Gardner III in 1961 and then David L. O’Brien in 1974. Her daughter Judith Ann went on to marry Jerome Berens. Her daughter Kim Renee went on to marry Michael Ludford.

Carol was frugal, responsible, practical and orderly. She was also creative, funny, caring and smart. She loved to crochet beautiful doilies and make creative jello salads for family gatherings. She loved plants and kept African violets in the house and impatiens and fuschias in the yard. She was a fastidious housekeeper and always wore her apron for cooking and cleaning. She always had a great smile and made her family laugh with a quirky sense of humor. Her legacy to her family includes a bold spirit willing to confront life directly, courage in the face of adversity, and laughter to lighten everyone’s burdens, with an unwavering love and commitment to family.

Carol lived on Corona Road in Waukegan IL for most of her adult life. At the age of 80 she went to live with her daughter Judith Ann in Wadsworth IL until she transitioned to Brookdale nursing home in Kenosha WI at the age of 94.

Carol is survived by her loving daughters and sons in law, step children David (Susan) O’Brien, and MaryAnn (Steve) Blackowicz; grandchildren Christa (Joshua) Pessin, Danielle (Mark) Halverson, Amanda Gilliland, Veronica Berens, Heather King, Christopher (Sabrina) Ludford and Jennifer (Rob) Martin; and 19 joyful great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, three husbands, and stepchildren Dennis (Donna) O’Brien. Her life will be celebrated at Marsh Funeral home, with visitation on Monday January 29 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm and the funeral service on Tuesday January 30 at 11:00 am. Flowers may be sent to Marsh Funeral home in Gurnee to be delivered the morning of Monday, January 29.