Obits: Canning, Carter, Dunn, Kocal, Majeski, Serafine, Stocklin

Margaret Canning

Margaret Mary Canning, née Luby, 89, of Lake Forest, passed away on Jan. 29, with all eight of her children and many of her 21 grandchildren at her bedside. She was the widow of Fred Canning, who was president and chief operating officer of the Walgreen Drug Company from 1978 to 1990. A resident of Lake Forest for 42 years, She was a devout Catholic and a faithful parishioner at the Church of Saint Mary of Lake Forest. Canning’s deep faith enabled her to see goodness in all relatives, friends and strangers she encountered. Canning told everyone with the utmost sincerity, “You’re the best!” Her devotion to the Blessed Mother was the inspiration for her charity and joyful love of life. Never known to complain, she treasured her in-home and Balmoral Care Center caregivers, and the healthcare professionals at Lake Forest Northwestern Hospital. Canning graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s-on-the-Fox in St. Charles. In 1944, she married Fred, who cherished her until his death in 2009. She was the beloved mother of Jeannette Canning Schmidt, Laura (Mrs. Michael Ebert), Debra (Mrs. Gregory Beytien), Terrence (Elizabeth), Patrick (Lynn), Margaret (Mrs. Paul Camellino), Timothy (Linda), and Kathleen (Mrs. John Trkla). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Church of St. Mary, Lake Forest.

Charles Carter

Charles William Carter, 63, of Las Vegas, Nev., passed away Feb. 12, after a brief illness. He was born Sept. 27, 1951, in Highland Park and grew up in Lake Bluff. Carter was a 23-year resident of Las Vegas. He received a bachelor’s degree from Earlham College in 1973 and a doctorate’s degree in environmental chemistry from Drexel University in 1981. Carter spent his career in the field of environmental testing and analysis. He spent the last 15 years working with the environmental testing firm TestAmerica, where he was vice president responsible for all technical matters, providing critical scientific expertise and support to all areas of the business. His colleagues looked to him as the brain trust of the organization. He was deeply respected by all who knew him, both in the company and across the environmental industry. He was active in a number of environmental organizations and a frequent speaker at environmental conferences and forums. Carter was the winner of the 2010 Outstanding Publication Award from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors. He enjoyed golf, birdwatching, hiking and could still beat his sons at racquetball at age 63. Carter will be remembered for his radiance, sense of humor, humanity and his supreme competence and problem-solving ability. He always had a smile on his face. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn Edwards, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Clark County School District; his sons, Robert Carter of Austin, Texas, and Andrew Carter of Silver Spring, Md.; his mother, Dorothy Carter of Spring Hill, Fla.; and his sister, Carolyn Carter of Gettysburg, Pa. He will be profoundly missed but never forgotten. Memorial services are pending. The family requests no flowers. Donations in memory of Carter can be made to the Charles William Carter Memorial Scholarship Fund at thepef.org or by mail to the Public Education Foundation, 4350 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV, 89119.

Diane Dunn

Diane Marie Dunn (Moore), 83, of Lake Forest, passed away at her home on Jan. 26. She was dearly loved by her daughters Kathy (Bob), Lori (Kerry), and Joanne; sons Dan (Anne), Tim, and Larry (Melody); grandchildren Kelly (Patrick), Colleen (Joshua), Conor, Logan, Brandon, Patrick, Teague, Morgan (Joseph), Dan, Mike, Donna, and Michelle; and great grandchildren Samantha, Jersey, Tinley, Riley, Ryan, and Gage; as well as the rest of her family and many loyal and caring friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lester (1984). She will always be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. To know her was to love her. Donations would be appreciated to the charity of your choice in Dunn’s name.

Lawrence Kocal

Lawrence Kocal, 88, of Naperville, passed away on Feb. 15. He was a former resident of Lake Bluff. Kocal was born on Feb. 3, 1927, in North Chicago, the son of the late Anton and Mary Kocal. He was the beloved husband of the late Therese (nee Zuber), loving father of Janet and Laurie Kocal. Kocal was a graduate of Waukegan High School and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon his discharge, he enrolled at the University of Illinois at Champaign and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Kocal worked for U.S. Steel as an industrial engineer for nearly 30 years. Kocal married Therese, his grade school sweetheart. They were married for 62 blissful years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Saint Peter and Paul Church in Naperville. Outside of work and family, he enjoyed playing golf, loved to follow the stock market and was a gifted handyman. Kocal was a Chicago and Illini sports fan and enjoyed a game of cribbage or two, three, four. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, 8430 West Bryn Mawr, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60631.

Carolyn Majeski

Carolyn Majeski, nee Tack, a resident of Lake Forest for more than 60 years, died Jan. 3 at the age of 90. She was the wife of the late Joseph A. Majeski, a loving mother of daughter, Teresa (Jan) Derdiger and sons James (Joanne) Majeski, John (Luann) Majeski and the late Joseph Michael Majeski. She was the proud grandmother of Paula, David, Michael, Anna and Elyse. She was born on Feb. 10, 1924 in West Long Branch, N.J. to Dollye and Col. Willis J. Tack. She lived in seven different U.S. cities as well as the Philippines and China by the time she was 18. Interestingly, her junior year of high school was spent at Lake Forest High School while her father was commandant of Fort Sheridan. She was an active member of the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Center where she enjoyed playing duplicate bridge and performing in plays. She had a beautiful singing voice, enjoyed by many at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake Forest. If desired, contributions may be made to Lamb’s Farm, 14245 West Rockland Road, Libertyville, IL 60048.

Eileen Serafine

Eileen Doris Serafine, 92, of Lake Forest and Wellington, Fla., passed away on Feb. 14. She was born Sept. 25, 1922 to Florence and John Strobel. Serafine was a figure skating sectional gold singles and pairs judge for more than 45 years until her passing. She was a lifetime Deerpath Garden Club member, founding and lifetime member of The Lake Forest Club, Lyric Opera supporter and had interests in many sports, including golf, which she played often as a member of the Palm Beach Polo Club. Serafine demonstrated unparalleled dedication and devotion to her family and the DuPage Figure Skating Club as a director and one of the founding officers. She also held numerous chair positions for more than 65 years as a member of U.S. Figure Skating. She is survived by her two daughters, Karen (Daniel) Considine of Winnetka and Jan (Alan Eisenberg) Serafine of Lake Forest; grandmother of Shaun Considine, Sheila (Michael) Kailus, John P. Considine, Erik (Maria) Serafine and Andrew (Nicole) Serafine; great-grandmother of Margaux Fitzgerald, Kelly and Caitlin Kailus. Serafine was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph L. Serafine. She was also aunt to many nieces and nephews, including Charles (the late Gay Hastings) Marino; and sister to the late Norma (late Robert) Anderson, the late Jack (Peggy Elliott) Strobel and the late Lila Lee (late Howard) Thoren. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the United States Figure Skating Memorial Fund, 20 First Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80906.

Alice Stocklin

Alice G. Stocklin, 94, a longtime resident of Lake Bluff, died Feb. 11. She was the dear wife of the late Clifford Lind Stocklin (1973); beloved mother of the late Eric Stocklin (1994), the late Jon (Sandra) Stocklin (2013), Kristin (John) Welu, Marne (Edward) Holstein, Mark (Leslie) Stocklin and Felisa (Peter) Donlon; cherished grandmother of Mirren (Mark) Theiding, Lindsey (Matthew) Anderson, Brooke (Brian) McCloskey, Kristin (Greg) Gish, E. Stephen Holstein, Jr., Jennifer (Robert) Kelch, Grover P. Donlon, Alexander Dee, Sara Dee and their lovely children; fond great-grandmother of Callum, Tobey, Harper, Darby, Shelby, Theodora, Cecily, Casimir and Olivia. A memorial service will be held later in the spring. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church Music Fund, 244 E. Center Ave., Lake Bluff, IL 60044.

Have someone’s life you’d like to honor? Email e.degrechie@22ndcenturymedia.com with information about a loved one who was part of the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities.