Carol Sue Friedrich – Alcorn, 48, passed away at 9:10pm on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at her residence. She was born on October 19, 1967, in Alton, the daughter of James J. Friedrich of Bethalto and the late Joan M. (Landolt) Friedrich. She married Dale Alcorn on February 14 in Belleville and he survives. Other survivors include her children: MaryBeth St. Peters of Aurora, Illinois, USMC Corporal Douglas M. St. Peters and his wife: Haley of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Andrew J. Alcorn of Columbia, Missouri, Ashlyn Alcorn of Columbia, Missouri, Josephine P. Alcorn at home, Kristopher J. Alcorn at home, her siblings and their spouses: Thomas and Jennifer Friedrich of Highland, Illinois, Mary and Frank Haynes of Bethalto, Richard and Debora Friedrich of San Jose, California, Karen Bourbon of St. Charles, Illinois, Alan Friedrich and his companion: Donna Varble of Brighton, Illinois, Robin Friedrich of Rosewood Heights, her mother in law and father in law: Chris and Rick Green of Ballwin, Missouri, a sister in law and brother in law: Laurie and Tommy Irwin of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, several nieces, nephews, and many other extended family and friends.
Carol graduated from Roxana High School in 1985. She was formerly employed at Olin Community Credit Union in Bethalto as an assistant manager. She then worked as an accounting clerk at Crown Vision in Alton. She was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Bethalto.
In recent years Carol’s story has been dominated by cancer and the non for profit that we established in her honor. The Power of the Giraffe strives to help patients and their families as they go through cancer treatments. But she is so much more.
Carol was blessed with grace, beauty and an inner strength that inspired those around her. She had a smile that lit up a room and made you feel like anything was possible. She was so selfless with her time, words and love that you would forget that she was battling cancer. She was a caring and loving mother, sister, daughter, wife and friend. I am struck now by how many people considered her to be their best friend, and she was to all. She only knew one way to love, completely and without reservation. She did not hover or cling, but you knew that if you ever needed her, she would be there. And her smile and warm embrace would assure you that everything would be okay. Her smile, laugh and sense of humor filled the world, even in her final week she still cracked jokes that made us laugh and let us know that everything would be okay.
Please carry Carol in your heart and thoughts. And please when you see a Giraffe, remember her and how much she meant to so many.
In celebration of her life, visitation will be from 4pm to 8pm on Monday, November 9, 2015, at Pitchford Funeral Home in Wood River with a prayer service at 3:30pm. A Mass of Christian of Burial will be held at 10am on Tuesday, November 10, 2015, at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Bethalto. Father Tom Liebler will be the celebrant. Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Power of the Giraffe and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Online guestbook available at www.pitchfordfuneralhome.com
