ROCKFORD — Carol J. Rand, 82, of Rockford, formerly of Rochelle, passed away Saturday, June 9, 2018 at OSF St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford. 
Carol was born Carol Jean Hutson on July 28, 1935 at their family farm near Sparta, Wis. She spent her childhood walking to a one-room schoolhouse with her big brother, Richard, younger brother, Lee, and later a sister, Linda, who Carol had prayed diligently for. Seven years later, Carol was blessed with another sister, Kathleen. They grew up on the farm near Camp McCoy which gave them many stories to tell their families later.

In 1951, her family including her father, Henry Hutson, her mother, Edna, her maternal grandmother, Mary Samuelson, and three of her four siblings moved to Rochelle, where Carol’s youngest sister, Jane, was born. Her father began a new career in Rochelle, owning and operating an A&W root beer stand where Carol spent many hours as a teenager and as a young woman. As a carhop, she met her future husband, Ronald Rand.

After graduating from Rochelle Township High School in 1953, Carol attended the Rockford Memorial School of Nursing, which became her lifetime career. She worked at the Rochelle Hospital, then later at DeKalb Public Hospital. Most of her career was as a coronary care nurse at Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb, from where she retired after 32 years of service.

Carol and Ron began their married life together in California where Ron was stationed in the U.S. Marine Corps.  They returned to Creston to start a family, later settling in Rochelle where they lived for 38 years, raising their family, working and attending countless sporting events until 2009 when she and Ron moved to Rockford to be near her daughter’s family.

Carol had so many talents and hobbies. She loved quilting, sewing, embroidery, cooking, baking and gardening. Her pie, cookie, and cheesecake making talent will be missed by many. Her pecan rolls could not be beat. She gardened all her life, even supervising the garden being planted this spring.
Most of her family members have beautiful quilts to cherish that she made specifically for them. She sewed gifts for every grand baby as they came along. She loved machine embroidery which occupied much of her spare time in retirement. She also loved to read. 
Encompassing all this talent and skill was her unwavering faith in God, which gave her strength and guidance in all her life through many trials, tribulations and joys. She attended many Bible studies throughout her life and shared her faith with strength and encouragement. She sang in church choirs and played handbells at the First Presbyterian Church in Rochelle where she was a member.
Carol was being treated for cancer in the last year, but she died unexpectedly at OSF St. Anthony Hospital on Saturday, June 9 with her daughter, Liz, and granddaughter Rachel, by her side.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Edna Hutson; her sister, Linda Dummett; her husband, Ron; and her son, Jamie.

She is survived by her daughter, Kelly (Tom) Cross and their sons, Jason (Abby), and Joshua (Maria); her son, Michael (Cindy) and their children, Jamie (Courtney), Ben (Kelly) and MaryKate (Kevin) Davey; her daughter, Elizabeth (Mark) Milani and their children, Jacob and Rachel Milani; her brothers, Richard (Kathleen) Hutson and Lee (Mary) Hutson; her sisters, Kathleen (George) Bouska and Jane Allen; as well as eight great-grandchildren, Sydney and Brody Cross, Aiden Cross, Owen and Cooper Rand, Oliver, Hutson and Mae Davey. She is also survived by her husband’s siblings, Lowell (Donna), Howard (Gloria), Gerry (Marjorie), Chuck (Phyllis) and Norma Rand; as well as many nieces and nephews. 

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Khan and the staff at OSF Center for Cancer Care, especially Andrew, whose love and care always brightened Carol’s days.
She was a wonderful person, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and faithful Christian. She will be missed by many.

The visitation will be from 4 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. Sixth St., Rochelle.  The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 15 at the funeral home with Pastor Doug Forsberg officiating.  Burial will follow the funeral at Trinity Memory Gardens in Rochelle. 
Memorials may be made in Carol’s memory to OSF Center for Cancer Care.
Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.