Birth date: Jan 1, 1933 Death date: Mar 27, 2026
Carol Spaulding Shadrake passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026, after a short illness. She was loved and cared for by her entire family at the end of her life, as she had been throughout her life. Carol was a New Year’s baby, Read Obituary
I feel so grateful to have grown up having Carol as an honorary Grandmother. She had this amazing ability to make everyone feel welcomed, encouraged those around her to find their unique talents, and let people just be themselves. She showed others how to find joy and acceptance in hard situations, while also naturally creating community anywhere she went. She will be deeply missed, and I will try to keep her spirit with me by connecting and seeing the good in others ❤️
Dear friends, holding you up and all those who mourn the loss of Carol and celebrate her life for comfort, solace, healing, and peace. In high school, I was in awe of Carol and Dick for how they raised their family as well as all of us who were lucky to be in their orbit. I came to know her through my friendship with Don, Bonnie, Paul, and Lynda and can see Carol's love shine through their lives. See you on the other side, Carol.
John Chovan, Columbus, Ohio
Sending heartfelt condolences to the entire Shadrake family. Carol’s daughter Bonnie is my dear friend and a tribute to her mother. God bless you all.
One of my many favorite memories involving Carol was the way she treated my son when he was very small and having playdates with her grandchildren here in Illinois. Carol was always so warm and friendly and treated Alex as if he were one of her own grandchildren. She was so good with little kids. Another fond memory involves the many times we had family and friends game nights, and how enthusiastic and fun she was to play with.
What a gorgeous life! And my "favorite memory" was in the eulogy! Carol sat on the edge of the stage at the old Royal George theatre and sang "Skylark" with Bonnie playing piano. It was lovely. I also loved seeing her and Dick at events in Oak Park, like Patrick and Daniel's 4th, and in Paul and Lynda's, and Amy and Geoff's back yard. Often cracking one liners. She and Dick even came to see a play I was in--I felt tremendously honored.
May all the gods enfold her as the love in her voice warms the heavens.
Brendan
I sang in the choir with Carol at saint Richard's Catholic Church and performed in the theater fundraisers at North Olmsted high school with my sister Julie Scheible Vasek. I also sang at a number of weddings with Carol and her daughter Bonnie
Accompanying. Carol was the consummate professional and a kind director and teacher.
She had a heart of gold and a fire for musical excellence!
Carol, i will see you again in the choir of angels! My sincere sympathies to Dick, Don, Bonnie and the whole family.
Many years ago, Carol, Bonnie, and I were in a community theater musical revue in North Olmsted. There were numbers from The King and I, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, but the best moment in the show was Carol singing, "Rose's Turn" from Gypsy. She was spectacular! For me, no one has ever performed it as well. My condolences to you, Bonnie, and all who loved your Mom.
Mary McGinty
It would be impossible to pick a favorite story because any time spent with Carol was memorable. She was devastatingly funny, observant, honest, and genuinely interested in what you had to say. She did not suffer fools gladly! If you got a compliment from Carol, you knew it meant something. I consider myself lucky to have known her and even luckier that my daughter got to know her as well, because Carol was (and still is) an inspiration on how to live life fully.
(This photo is faded because it has sat on my desk for years - it's a moment I love to revisit.)
