Claudia Carolyn Jones, age 90, a resident of Glen Ellyn, passed away December 29, 2023, in Downers Grove, Illinois.  She was born August 2, 1933, in Aberdeen Mississippi.

Carolyn grew up in a small town in rural Mississippi with her mother and father and three siblings. She was an avid reader and a very good student. In high school she was active in the Drama Club, selected as a member of the Homecoming Court, and won an award in History. While in high school she met and found the love of her life, Curtis Jones. They were married in 1951 and moved to Joliet, Illinois, where they raised their three children Michael, Tina, and Joseph.

In 1976 they moved to Glen Ellyn Illinois to follow her career with the JCPenney company. She began her career with JCPenney as a sales associate in 1965 working at the Joliet store. She was promoted into management (Human Resources) in 1972 and accepted a promotion and transfer to the JCPenney Store in Lombard, Illinois from 1976 to 1986. From 1986 until 1991 she worked at the North Riverside store where she retired in 1991.

Carolyn was always active in church. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Joliet until 1976. She served as head of the Second Milers Women's Circle while at the First Baptist Church. In 1976 she and her husband Curt moved to Glen Ellyn where they became members of the Wheaton Evangelical Free Church which recently became the Compass Church - Wheaton Campus.  She was a member of the church Adult Bible School and also held the role of a Stephens Minister for a number of years.

She cherished the time she spent traveling to many places in the world with her late husband. She loved working in her yard, spending time at the South Wilmington Fireman's Beach and Park Club, quilting and working with her quilting bee, reading, and spending time at the Glen Ellyn YMCA for water aerobics with her friends. Most of all she loved her family dearly and also her many close and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Claude and Louise Gilreath, her husband of 56 years (Curtis), son Micheal, and her brother Claude Gilreath Jr.

She is survived by her son, Joseph (Nancy) Jones of Aurora, IL. Daughter Tina (Brian) Stout of Colorado Springs, CO, Daughter-In-Law Janey Jones, Joliet, IL, Sister Emma Wheeler of Aberdeen, MS, & Brother Ronnie (Judy) Gilreath of Aberdeen, MS. eight grandchildren, Kevin (fiancé Katie) Jones, Megan (Jon) Brandt, Amy (Derek) Weber, Lesley (Rob) Pepperman, Jeannine (Garrett) Anderson, Eric (Kaitlin) Stout, Ami Bubica, & Aaron (Lynn) Jones. Eleven great-grandchildren, Taylor & Landon Brandt, Natalie & Gavin Jones, Jackson & Eleanor Weber, R.J., Lucas, & Leo Pepperman, Macallan Anderson & Amaya Jones.

A Memorial visitation will be held Saturday January 6th from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 3:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home 304 N. Main Street Wheaton IL. Interment will be Private, Abe Lincoln National Cemetery Elwood, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the American Heart Association.

Family and friends may sign a guestbook at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.