Carol Zehren

Carol Zehren passed away peacefully on March 16, 2026.

Birthdate: Dec. 11, 1940, Evanston, IL

Second of six children loved and raised by Barthol H. Zehren and wife, Frances Dean Zehren.

Cause of Death: COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and chronic respiratory failure.

Carol attended St. Nicholas and Marywood Catholic schools. She knew from childhood that she would pursue either a nursing or a teaching career. She gave each a close look and teaching soon won her heart. She taught middle grade levels in the Chicago public schools, often populated with new speakers of English.

She became an expert in TESL – that's Teaching English as a Second Language. In those very productive years, visitors to her classroom might think they had stumbled into a youth version of the United Nations!

She was an adventurous traveler: Canada, Mexico, Europe and Iran all offered her extended visits. Indeed, she lived in Tehran for more than a year, teaching English to college students.

She also did valued work at St. Ignatius parish in Chicago where she did fund-raising and supervised the Sunday School program.

Carol taught many children over the years as a middle grades teacher including some "diverse learners", in a multicultural classroom. She was even a favorite as a “musical director” of performances by her students at school-wide assemblies.

Carol was the captain of field trips for her students. Often this meant an outdoor excursion to a popular public attraction but also included a visit to the Kungsholm Scandinavian restaurant in Chicago to see a play performed by a cast of puppets! These were learning adventures - she had her students write about their experiences in class the next day!

She was active in the CTU (Chicago Teachers Union).

Carol is survived by older sister Barbara McKinley and three younger brothers, John, David, and Bart.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Emily’s 1400 E. Central Road in Mount Prospect at 10 AM Thursday March 26.

Interment is at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines on 700 River Road following the funeral mass.