Carolyn Joan Wessel, nee Baima, formerly of Okawville and O’Fallon, passed away Sunday, September 8, 2024, at Oak Hill Nursing Home, Waterloo, Ill.
Carolyn was born in Collinsville, attended St. Teresa Catholic School in Belleville, and married William D. Wessel on July 1, 1964. They lived in O’Fallon for many years before moving to Okawville in 1976. She attended St. Barbara Catholic Church in Okawville, where she participated in quilting and served on the Altar Sodality. She also attended St. Clare Church in O’Fallon. Carolyn had an entrepreneurial spirit and tried her hand at many things. She was well-known in Okawville as the “Cake Lady” and also made homemade wine and beautiful quilts. Carolyn was a devoted wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, and dedicated homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband William Wessel, Sr., her parents Alvin and Vera, nee Quarenghi, Baima; and her brother John Baima.
Surviving are her children Kelly (Bob) Balzer of La Jolla, Calif., William (Colleen) Wessel, Jr. of Trenton, and Rob (Ana) Wessel of O’Fallon; grandchildren Kimberly (Nicholas) Moceri of Knoxville, Tenn., Whitney (Kendall Hazel) Wessel of Omaha, Neb., and Brandon Wessel of O’Fallon; great-grandchildren Oskar and Sloane Moceri; her twin sister Carol (Dave) Tiedemann of Naperville, and sister-in-law Paula Baima.
Memorials may be made to either St. Clare Catholic Church or Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4-7 p.m., Friday, September 13, 2024 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O’Fallon.
Mass of Christian Burial: 9:30 a.m., Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 505 Fountains Parkway, Fairview Heights, with Fr. Carl Schrage presiding.
Burial will follow at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville.
