Carolyn Louise Weaver, 84, passed away August 19, 2024 at her home in Lena, IL. She was born on May 27, 1940 in Canton, Ohio, to the late Harper Kenneth and Lois Evelyn (Inman) Bender.

While attending Manchester College, IN, she fell in love and married James Weaver, September 3, 1960. The couple moved to College Park, Maryland where she graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland.

Carolyn and Jim moved back to Huntington, IN where Carolyn taught school and Jim began farming. While living in IN they had four children before moving to Shannon, IL. in 1972, to continue farming and to be close to Jim's parent's and other family.

Carolyn was active in the Lanark Church of the Brethren, teaching Sunday school, playing piano and singing in the choir. Music was a constant expression for her throughout her life including with her family around the living room piano. Despite the degression of Alzheimer's, Carolyn remembered and sang an impressive repertoire of gospels, hymns and other songs until the end of her life.

While raising her four children as a dedicated and loving mother, she adapted well to farm life cooking, sewing, and preserving food for, and with, her family. She was extremely creative and made many crafts and elaborate costumes for her children.

She developed many close friends while active in her church, community, and local schools, returning to be a substitute teacher at Shannon High School for several years. (She also owned and ran the Popcorn Kettle and the Blarney Stone. Her delicious caramel corn was very popular in the community and with the local schools for fundraising.)

Carolyn is survived by her loving husband, James Weaver of Lena, IL; her four children, Sharon (Wayne) Vock of Fresno, CA; Diane (Ken) Weaver of Madison, WI; Philip Weaver (Danette) of Eugene, OR, and Beth Anne (Darin) Baughman of Stockton, IL; as well as her eight grandchildren Bryant (Aubrilyn), Brittany (Chris), Jordan (Yesenia), Levi (Krista), Austin (Natalia), Maddy (Robbie), Denver (Lilli), Jade, and Aidan; her two great grandchildren, Luna and Harper; and many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harper and Lois Bender, and her dear sister Barbara Bender.

A memorial service to celebrate Carolyn's life is scheduled at Lanark Church of the Brethren at 11 am, Saturday August 24, 2024, with visitation at 10 am. Interment in Lanark City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Carolyn may be made to Alzheimer's Association at: https://tinyurl.com/CarolynWeaver

Or to the Lanark Church of the Brethren, 326 S. High St, Lanark, IL 61046