Carol A. Sopiars

Carol Ann Sopiars, 83, of Kewanee, passed away surrounded by the love of her family on Monday, March 16, 2026, at OSF Saint Luke in Kewanee. She was born on January 11, 1943, in Kewanee, the daughter of Walter and Louise (Reiff) Melchin. On August 1, 1964, she married Joe Sopiars, and together they built a family that remained the center of her world.

Carol was a loving mother to Joe, Jenny (Duane), and Julie (Todd). She was a devoted grandmother to Matthew (Jovi), Jacob (Sara), Alek (Katrina), Elyssa, Peyton, Jessi, Courtney (Ted), Marissa, Ali (Drew), Zach (Megan), Rachel, Lyric, Chloee, Maddox, and Kahen, and was blessed with sixteen great-grandchildren with one more on the way. She was preceded in death by her children, Tami, who passed in infancy, and Jason; her parents, Walter and Louise; and her two brothers and two sisters.

Carol truly loved life and dedicated herself to raising her children and being the warm, selfless grandmother everyone cherished. She was the heart of her family, the one everyone turned to, always present without hesitation. She worked faithfully for 35 years at GTE and later part-time at Walmart. In her free time she enjoyed bowling, playing video games, cross stitching, crocheting, word games on her tablet, and gardening. She adored her dog Oreo, cats Luigi and Lucky, and her turtle Toby. She deeply appreciated the support of her family, especially Livy, who helped with chores, Thomas, her steadfast right hand, Natty, with whom she competed at word games, Venus, who kept her active, granddaughters Jessi and Ali, her daughters Jenny and Julie, and the daily lunchtime calls from her son Joe.

Carol gave her all to her family. Her memory will live on through the many lives she touched, and she will be profoundly missed.