Obituary of Carolyn Aquino

After a lifetime devoted to family, Carolyn Rowley Aquino passed away on Sunday, July 2nd 2023. Carolyn was born on March 29th, 1933 at 45 East Vine St., Canton, Illinois to Walter Cecil and Verna Kennedy Rowley. The newspaper announcement noted “Ambulance Too Late; Babe Born at Home''.  With her sister Joan, the family moved to the Chicago area where her father worked for the War Department. There she attended Immaculata High School graduating in 1950. She married John T. Aquino December 27, 1952 and they moved to Mobile, Alabama, where Lt. Aquino was serving in the US Air Force as a Weather Officer. Sons John William and Gerald Walter were born at the Brookley AFB hospital in Mobile.

Moving back to Chicago, Carolyn finished her college studies and graduated from Rosary College (now Dominican University) in River Forest in 1964. Carolyn taught middle school at several Chicago Area Catholic Parish schools, St. Hubert (Hoffman Estates) and Holy Cross (Deerfield) among them. During that time, she also raised purebred Pugs and won many American Kennel Club Championships. After retiring from teaching and championship dog shows, she was for many years a Technical Services Librarian with the Vernon Area Public Library.

Carolyn loved to travel. Together with her sister Joan, she visited many countries in Europe on Friendship Force trips staying with local families enjoying their customs and cuisines. She welcomed Friendship Force travelers from many countries into her own home as well. She especially enjoyed many trips to Ireland where she did genealogical research on her ancestors, the Kennedys and Rowleys.  Her travels also included trips with grandchildren to France, Canada and Ireland as well as outings to museums and even Wrigley Field.

In addition to sons John (Kathy) of Champaign Illinois, and Gerald (Gwen)  of Mundelein, Illinois, Carolyn will be remembered by grandchildren, Katie (Collin), Amy (Rob), Michael (Jordan), Sarah (Blake) and Maeve (Kyle) and great-grandchildren Rose, Olivia, Harper, Ryan, Cameron, Mackenzie, Reuben, Banks and Phoebe and her beloved sister Joan.

Funeral Mass to be held at St Mary of Vernon Church, Vernon  Hills IL, 10AM Tuesday August 22,2023, with a Memorial Visitation one hour prior,  followed by a Celebration of Life and a Parting Glass.   A private service will take place at St Mary’s Cemetery in Peoria IL where Carolyn will be together with her parents forever.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Associations (act.alz.org) or St. Bede Academy (st-bede.com) in Carolyn’s name. Special Thanks to Belmont Village Buffalo Grove IL and Sanctuary Hospice for the loving care provided. Please sign Carolyn’s guestbook at www.libertyvillefuneralhome.com.