Carolyn Weinstein
Carolyn Diane Weinstein died peacefully in her home on May 28th, surrounded by family. She was born on June 12, 1945, in Moline, IL to Lynn and Alice Ash. Her husband Herbert Weinstein proceeds her in death. She is survived by their children Stephen Kuhn (Kelly Blanchard), Kerri McLean (Merritt), Jill Weinstein, Leslie Weinstein, Lisa Hirschhorn (Ron) and their grandchildren Oliver, Vivian, Scarlett, Finn, SyRae, Deborah and Rebekah. Carolyn was loved and admired for her friendliness, fun-loving energy, and the great joy she took in doing small things for others every day.
Growing up in the Quad Cities, Carolyn graduated from Rock Island High and earned her Bachelor of Arts from Augustana College in 1967. She started her career as a speech therapist in Schaumburg and later found her calling as a teacher. She taught at Briar Glen Elementary School in Wheaton and after moving to Peoria, taught at Illinois Central College. A committed community member and volunteer, she was a board member and adult literacy tutor at Common Place. She was also a member of The Peoria Medical Society Alliance, a member of Chapter KX of P.E.O., and a member of St. Jude Catholic Church and Temple Anshai Emeth.
Carolyn was great with people and made friends everywhere she went. She had a remarkable welcoming quality, a warm light that drew others to her. Carolyn was the mom with an open door for the neighborhood kids, the friend happy to host a last-minute dinner party, and the woman in line at the grocery store listening to a stranger’s hard day. Carolyn had a way of making people feel seen that was unique and many will never forget.
She made her home a place everyone wanted to be. She loved cooking for others, especially while dancing in the kitchen with her family and a glass of wine. She took everything in stride, even with four teenagers, believing that “nothing in life is too bad if you got a good story out of it.” She always wanted to put in the extra effort to make things special. For her, creating a home was a true act of love. This was especially felt at the holidays, when her childlike love of magic and wonder filled the house.
Carolyn loved horses her whole life. She had her own horse at a young age and loved to ride bareback when she came home from school. As a teenager, she competed in barrel racing. She even met her husband Herb at a dude ranch in Colorado. They returned to that ranch every year so that their children could learn to ride as well. Carolyn loped well into her seventies and was ecstatic when her grandchildren wanted to ride too.
To Carolyn, family was everything. When Herb came home from work, she always paused whatever she was doing to give him a kiss. She wanted to really know her children and join in the things they liked to do. So she strapped on backpacks, slept out in the wilderness, went tubing on the lake, listened to Grateful Dead concerts, and wore a tutu on the streets of San Francisco. You know she was a great mom (and mother-in-law) because her son asked her to live right next door to him. Carolyn lit up around her grandchildren and was happiest cross-legged on the floor playing with them.
Said simply, she lived for those she loved, and those she loved will always remember her.
The visitation will be held on Sunday, June 8th from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Drake and Sons Funeral Home located at 5303 N. Western Ave., Chicago IL. Carolyn’s memorial service will start at 1:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
June 8, 2025 – 1:30pm cst
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