<p>Visitation will begin at 11:00 am at Saint Mary&rsquo;s Catholic Church in Chester, Illinois. This will be followed by a memorial service at the same location at noon.&nbsp;</p>

Visitation 

<p>A memorial service will be held at St. Mary&rsquo;s Catholic Church in Chester, Illinois at noon on January 3, 2026. This follows a visitation time beginning at 11:00 am. Monsignor Dennis Schaefer will officiate.&nbsp;</p>

Memorial Service

Elizabeth  Key

Carol Jeremiah

Gateway Cremation Center

Mary Carder

Carol Jeremiah, 84 died on December 24, 2025 at St Elizabeth’s hospital in O’Fallon, Illinois.

Carol Louise Hemmen was born to the late Wilbert J and Norma Hemmen, nee Slusher on December 9, 1941 in Chester, Illinois.
She was also preceded in death by:
- John L Maes whom she married on January 30, 1960 and passed in 1971.
⁃ Grandparents -
Alfred Wilson Killgrove and Mary Serena Killgrove, nee Slusher
August and Pella Hemmen
⁃ Siblings -
Wilbert A “Sonny” (Jo Ann) Hemmen
Mary (Richard) German
Nancy (Don) Schroeder
⁃ Grandsons -
Zachary Jeremiah
Chris James
She is survived by:
⁃ James V Jeremiah whom she married on August 29, 1980.
⁃ Sisters -
Delores (Delbert)Doeding
Shirley (Earl) Owens
⁃ Children and stepchild -
James J (Kim) Maes
Mary (Craig) Carder, nee Maes
Philip (Mary Beth) Maes
Elizabeth (Ginny) Key, nee Jeremiah
James V (Debbie) Jeremiah Jr
⁃ Grandchildren -
James D (Brandy) Maes
Sarah Maes
Kristen Maes
Will Key
Ava Key
Mia Key
Jenna (Darren) Larkin, nee Eggemyer
Patrick Jackson
Harley Jackson
⁃ Great grandchildren -
James Michael Maes
Tyree Maes
Nathaniel Maes
Lucas Maes
Samantha Maes
Olive Maes
Wade Larkin
Will Larkin
Madison Larkin
Natalee Handsbury
Garrett Banfield
Baylee James
McKinley James
Brantley James
Vyncynt Jeremiah
-Many beloved nieces and nephews and friends-

Carol enjoyed spending time with family. She was reared in Chester with her parents and also in Percy with her maternal grandparents. Her faith was important to her, and she was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chester for most of her life and was active in various ministries there as well as at other churches she attended when not living in Chester. She was a member of the ladies auxiliary at the American Legion. She briefly attended Belleville Area College, worked as an Avon representative for several years, and volunteered in the cafeteria at St Mary’s grade school. She enjoyed attending sporting events, band concerts, and any activities in which her children were participants.  She was a good cook and always wanted to feed anyone who came into her home. She made excellent pies, cookies, and her chicken and dumplings were especially sought after. These were quickly gone at potluck meals. She was an accomplished seamstress and made clothing for her family. She and Jim had a small travel trailer and liked to camp at Randolph County Lake.
Other hobbies included gardening and canning, playing Rummy, and listening to Jim perform music with various bands.

She was kind hearted.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) https://www.nami.org/
Or
Have a mass (or masses) offered for Carol at St Mary’s

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Visitation will be at 11:00 am followed by a memorial service at noon on January 3, 2026 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chester, Illinois.

The family of Carol acknowledges with sincere appreciation the heartfelt messages, tributes, and other expressions of kindness during this difficult time. May God bless you.

When words can’t fully express what we want to say, sometimes a small gift can. Visit our Memorial Store for personalised gifts, keepsake jewellery and to plant a memorial tree.

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Carol Jeremiah Obituary | Gateway Cremation Center