Carolyn Sue Rosenthal of Pontiac, IL, died on August 23, 2024 at the John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac.
She was born March 17, 1951, to William and Ruby Burns in Cedarville, WV, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. The family later relocated to Parkersburg WV, where she graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1969. After high school Carolyn enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving her country during the Vietnam War era. After leaving the Corps she found herself in Illinois, where she married Carl Rosenthal on April 17, 1970, in Elgin, IL.
Carolyn worked a variety of jobs in her life, mostly in small factories and food service settings. She loved country music and enjoyed going to concerts, watching Doctor Who, Jeopardy, and rooting for the Chicago Cubs. She was well known by all for her cat shirts and her love of reading. Her wicked sense of humor was only matched by the size of her heart.
Like her mother before her, Carolyn truly believed that family was formed by the heart far more than blood and had a variety of different people that considered her a bonus mom, honorary grandma, or adopted aunt. It didn’t matter who it was. She loved them all. Especially worth noting is the special motherly relationship she had with Jessica Kay, and how much she loved being a grandma to Jessica’s daughters Grace and Ivy.
She is survived by daughters Mary (Wesley) Mansfield of Wing, IL and Donna Rosenthal of Pontiac, IL; sisters Barbara Bishop of Kingsville, TX, Rosalita (Gene) Harvey of Beckley, WV, Wanda (Carlton) Hooper of Lyles, TN, and Kimberly (Mark) Nelson of Centennial, CO; brother Ronald Burns Sr. of Chatsworth, IL; grandchildren Elijah Rosenthal and Emily Mansfield, both of Wing, IL, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In her later years she was especially close to her great-niece and great-nephews Chloe, Luke and Daniel Williams of Bloomington, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother.
Visitation will be 1:00 to 3:00 pm Saturday, August 31, 2024 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury with her funeral service to begin at 3:00 pm. Pastor Daryl Evans will officiate the funeral service. Cremation rites will be accorded following the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the animal rescue of your choice to honor Carolyn’s lifelong love of cats.
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