Carol Jean (Vernetti) Grzelak, 74, daughter of Peter J. Vernetti and Mary M. (Balent) Vernetti, passed away on March 27, 2020, at home surrounded by her family. Carol was born in Litchfield, IL on June 28, 1945, and grew up in Benld, IL. Carol graduated from Southern Illinois University with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education. Carol taught in Bensenville for two years and at Homewood Flossmoor High School for thirty-two years. After she retired, Carol continued teaching part-time at Highland Community College and tutoring in Galena. In 1978 she married Alex Grzelak at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. They moved to Flossmoor, IL and had their two sons. After retiring, they built their dream home in Galena. Carol’s lifelong goal was to be a teacher. She discovered this passion while teaching special needs kids at a summer camp in Kentucky. Carol also enjoyed summers living in Alaska with her friends. It was here that she learned to hunt, fish, and pan for gold. Her desire to travel lived on throughout the rest of her life and she would spend many summers traveling the world with her family. Carol and her family were members of Flossmoor Community Church. Upon moving to Galena, they joined Crossroads Community Church in 2011. Carol was a part of the Crossroads Sisters organization where she participated in numerous church functions that benefited the local community. One of her greatest joys in life was raising her two sons. She never missed one of their sporting events or theatrical performances. She took extraordinary measures and sacrificed her time and energy to provide for her family and community. She is survived by her husband Alex, two sons Ryan (Margaret) and Evan (Stephanie) Grzelak; stepdaughter Cheryl (Tom) Hall and their three daughters, Emma, Lydia, Ava, two sisters Rosemarie (John) Fry, Irene Mueller, and brother Robert (Catherine) Vernetti along with many loving nieces and nephews. Due to the current pandemic, a funeral will not be possible. Her family plans to have a memorial service to honor and celebrate her life at a later date.