Carolyn Mae Zimmerman

Carolyn Mae Zimmerman passed away on January 16, 2026, at home surrounded by her loving family.She was born on March 7, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois to Edward and Mary Holmstrom and was raised in Oak Park, Illinois.

On November 7, 1959, Carolyn married the love of her life, Ronald G. Zimmerman, and in the early 60’s they settled down in Antioch, Illinois on Loon Lake where they raised their daughters, Linda and Kristen.

Carolyn enjoyed all the activities that lake life had to offer in both summer and winter. She taught not only her daughters how to water ski but also numerous family and friends. During the winter, Carolyn loved snowmobiling, ice skating and sledding on Loon Lake or tobogganing at Steitz’s Resort; some of the best childhood memories her daughter’s have were of these fun wintertime activities.

Carolyn also had a talent for sewing and made all her daughters’ Halloween costumes when they were children, she was known to stay up all night to finish the dresses she was working on for them. Carolyn also quilted many different things for her family over the years.

Active in her local community, Carolyn was a member of several civic organizations for youth and adults and often accompanied the youth group assemblies on their sightseeing adventures.

She worked for and retired from AT&T (which was originally known as the Illinois Bell Telephone). During her retirement years Carolyn enjoyed swimming in the backyard pool and treating the neighborhood kids to Chocolate Malts after they were done swimming.

Carolyn enjoyed traveling and cruising, she even went to Alaska twice! An avid reader, her Kindle was used to read numerous books and to play countless games of solitaire. She loved animals and rescued many throughout the years. Carolyn also loved her chocolate and mentos, she still has some in her purse and next to her chair!

There was always room for one more around her Holiday table and speaking of the holidays – she loved Christmas and had probably seen every Hallmark Christmas movie made to date (or even all the Christmas movies ever made) and spoiling her grandchildren. Her favorite holiday was Halloween! Linda and Kris said that she loved to scare them!

Carolyn will be deeply missed by her family; her daughters Linda (Danny) Kipker and Kristen (John) Roeker; her grandchildren Scott Kipker, Chelsea (Matthew Clinton) McCurry, Dylan (Anya) McCurry, Claire Roeker, Emma Roeker, Aurora Roeker, and John Roeker II; her great-grandchildren Kingston James Zurawski, Madelynn McCurry and Olivia McCurry.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years Ronald G. Zimmerman; her parents, and her brothers Edward (Rosemary) Holmstrom and Kenneth (Lillian) Holmstrom.

Her children will always remember one of her famous sayings that Carolyn passed down from her own mother, “This life, the next and then the fireworks!”

Visitation will be held at Strang Funeral Chapel and Crematorium, 410 East Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, Illinois 60030 on Friday January 23, 2026 from 8:30 am to 9:30 am. A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Lakes – St. Peter Catholic Church, 557 Lake St. Antioch, IL. 60002 on Friday January 23, 2026 at 10 am. Interment will be held privately. For more information please call 847-223-8122 or www.StrangFuneral.org .

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the following organizations that were important to her; The Antioch Rescue Squad, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or to the Open Arms Mission in Antioch, Illinois.