Carolyn Balfour

McHenry, Illinois,Carolyn Browning Balfour of McHenry Carolyn Browning Balfour, 45, of McHenry passed away Monday, May 24, 2010, at Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center, McHenry. Carolyn was born September 6, 1964 in Des Moines IA to Charles and Joyce (nee Stannard) Cross. In her early years, she excelled in sports and was an excellent student, graduating in 1982 from Cary-Grove High School and from Northern Illinois University in 1986. She went on to pursue her horticultural interests. Gardening and spending time in nature were her biggest joys. Carolyn especially enjoyed being a wife and mother and spending time with her family and extended family. She is loved and will be missed by her family very much. Carolyn?s survivors include her husband, Steve, whom she married June 7, 1986, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church; children, Maddie, Rick, and Charlie Balfour; mother, Joyce Cross of Cary; siblings, Ann (Ron) Cardo of Oshkosh, WI, David Cross of Cary, Joan (Rich) Zurek of Phoenix, AZ, John (Mary) Cross of Woodstock, and Liz (Jason) Fiala of Crystal Lake; mother-in-law, Hazel Balfour of Crystal Lake; sisters-in-law, Shari (Joe) Vogel of Princeton, IL, Sandy (Jim) Knulty of Fontana, WI, and Stacy (Mike) Van Vleet of Rockford; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her father, Charles Cross; father-in-law, Richard Balfour; and sister-in-law, Susan Saiz. The memorial visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Friday, May 28, at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E Terra Cotta Ave (Rte 176), Crystal Lake. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 29 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 1023 McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake, where there will be visitation from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Carolyn's name may be made to Gift of Hope, 425 Spring Lake Dr, Itasca IL 60143, www.giftofhope.org. or 1-888-307-3668.

---