Carol Smith Donahue

Carol Smith Donahue, 75, of Eau Claire, formerly of Chicago, died Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire. She was born November 24, 1937, in Chicago, to James L. and Nora A. (Warren) Smith. She married Donald Donahue on July 1, 1961 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Homewood, Ill. Carol lived in many places including Philadelphia, Penn., Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. and Eagan, Minn. She settled in Eau Claire to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren in 1992. She began her career as a teacher for 23 years and worked the last 30 years as a librarian most recently at Regis Middle and High School. Carol was recently interviewed for the school newspaper and had this to say regarding her time spent with her family at Regis: "At first I was apprehensive, but as years went by I became happier with it. Now I just appreciate sharing my talents with my family. Sometimes there is a thing with knowing what my grandkids do in their free time at school and the things they confide in me with at school. I am very thankful for this opportunity to know my grandchildren and children in a different setting other than at home." She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Eau Claire. She was known by her family as "Mimi" and is survived by two daughters, Dawn (Earl) Benning of Eau Claire, Wis. and Ellen (Bernard) Killian of Elk Creek, Wis.; a sister, Sheila (Jim) Hughes of Flossmoor, Ill.; a brother, Jim (Jan) Smith of San Clemente, Calif.; five grandchildren, Elizabeth, Vincent, Margaret Caroline and Nora Killian and Christina Benning; a step-grandchild, Jodi (Carrie) Killian and a step-great-grandchild, Scarlett Killian. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Sharon Fanning. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 22, 2012 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with Very Rev. Woodrow H. Pace officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a rosary, at Edison Funeral Home, Independence, and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Memorials may be directed to Regis Middle & High School Library or SS. Peter & Paul Catholic School. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carol Smith Donahue, please visit our flower store.