Carol Adams Svoboda

Barrington, IL – Carol Adams Svoboda, age 87, beloved mother, grand and great-grandmother, family member and friend, passed away on January 13, 2023 after a recent struggle with Alzheimer’s.  She was born on April 15, 1935 in Omaha, NE to Gordon and Myrtle (Webb) Adams, was educated in the Denver primary schools and at Hopkins High School in Minnesota, and graduated from Lawrence University in Wisconsin in 1957 with a history major and teaching certification.  At Lawrence, Carol met Frank Svoboda whom she married in 1957.  Carol and Frank celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in March 2017.  Frank unexpectedly passed away a few months later at age 83.

Following college, and after a short stay in Japan where Frank completed his U.S. Air Force service, the couple settled in Des Plaines, IL, where Frank worked with his father at Svoboda’s Men’s Wear, an established retail clothing business.  It was here that Carol and Frank raised their five children.  In between managing a household of five active kids, Carol found time to enjoy her horseback riding, reading, knitting, Theta bridge group, and many circles of friends.  Carol and Frank were prominent members of First Congregational Church in Des Plaines for 35 years and later of Barrington United Methodist Church after they moved to the Barrington area in 1992.

Carol loved bringing people together and serving others.  She was often the first to welcome a new family to the neighborhood, and the one to host a farewell party for departing friends.  She was always ready to volunteer her time for a church or school event.  As a more recent example of her efforts, Carol started the shawl ministry and the traveling tea parties at Barrington United Methodist Church.

Along with husband Frank, Carol enjoyed the outdoors.  In particular, Carol cherished time spent with family and friends at the family cabin on Smoky Lake, WI, built in 1982.  The cabin allowed her to enjoy woodland walks with her dogs, cross-country skiing, summer lake activities and picnics at “sister bay,” a spot on the lake between the Svoboda cabin and the cabin next door owned by Carol’s sister Janet’s family.

In 2019, Carol moved from her Barrington Hills home to a villa at the Garlands of Barrington.  The move was fortuitous in better allowing for her care, under the watchful eye of devoted caregiver Mary Grace Ventenilla, due to the rapid progression of Alzheimer’s in the past few years.  As a true mark of her character, Carol retained, to the end, the same gentle, sweet spirit she epitomized throughout her life.

Carol is survived by sons John (Jill) Svoboda and Paul Svoboda of Chicago, IL; daughters Kathryn (Kerry) Vermeer of Minneapolis, MN, Sarah (Ken) Wright of Durango, CO, and Margaret Svoboda of Sacramento, CA; grandchildren Sam, Adam and Lucy (Matt Nussbaum) Svoboda, Grace (Brooks) Van Horn, Gordon (Sarah) Vermeer, Evert Vermeer, and Webb and Anna Wright; great-grandchildren Emery and Shiloh Van Horn and Elizabeth Carol Vermeer; and sister Janet A. Oatman.

A service celebrating Carol’s life will be held at Barrington United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 4 at 11 a.m., with visitation at the church starting at 10 a.m.  On Friday, March 3, visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St. (Lake-Cook Road), Barrington.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Carol’s name to Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road, Barrington, IL 60010, or to Lawrence University/Svoboda Scholarship Fund, 711 E. Boldt Way, Appleton, WI 54911 (go.lawrence.edu – please note Svoboda Scholarship in the “other” gift designation).