Carol Joyce Kraft died in her home in Wheaton, Illinois on December 26, 2025 at age 90. She was born in Leslie, Michigan, a small town south of Lansing, the state capital on December 8, 1935.

She received her B.A. in Elementary Education from Wheaton College in 1957. Her first Master of Arts was from the Teacher's College, Columbia University. Her second Master of Arts was from the University of Michigan in German language and literature. She joined the Foreign Language Department of Wheaton College in 1960 and spent 36 years teaching German language and literature until her retirement in 1996. She was ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church on December 2, 1989, and served at St. Barnabas in Glen Ellyn, Il for 27 plus years.

Carol was a spiritual mother and director to many, guiding them on their spiritual journeys listening deeply, anointing with healing oil and praying for them. She often spoke of an image that had come to mind as she listened such as -a foggy path, a fountain, an hour glass- and she published, Birthed by the Spirit; Meditations on Images in Prayer. She enjoyed silence and helped many become comfortable sitting in silence "listening." She also published With Thanksgiving; Meditations on Asking, writing of the importance of praying for ourselves and our own needs. A prominent word in her vocabulary was "provision"  her confidence in God's provision to meet a need. She was often a woman of few words but those who spent time with her knew to listen closely and carefully.

Carol was known for her breath and depth of knowledge on the Holocaust and was often reading books addressing various aspects and personal testimonies from survivors of the Holocaust.  She loved to knit, read and garden. One could often find her alone weeding quite prayerfully, on the grounds of St. Barnabas Church.

She is survived by her brother John who lives near Detroit, Michigan and six nieces and nephews.

A Visitation will be held at 10am prior to a Memorial Service at 11am on January 31, 2026, at St. Barnabas Church, 22W415 Butterfield Rd., Glen Ellyn, Illinois (630-469-1394). A processional walk of the cremains to The Memorial Garden of St. Barnabas will follow the service. There will be a reception to follow at the church. The service will be livestreamed at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85088800120

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Barnabas Church and The Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College, 351 E Lincoln Ave, Wheaton, IL.