Carolyn P. Cartwright

Carolyn Elizabeth Peck Cartwright, 90, of Lake Forest, IL died peacefully in her house on Thursday, December 22, 2022. Carolyn was born the middle child on May 29, 1932 to Rebecca Springer Justice and Ferdinand W. Peck and grew up in Penns Grove, NJ where her mother’s family had lived for over 300 years. Carolyn attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and met her future husband, John G. Cartwright. In 1954 she graduated as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, married her beloved Jack, an officer in the Navy, and moved to La Jolla, California. During her time in California, Carolyn worked briefly for Convair until the young couple moved back to the Midwest, eventually settling in the suburbs of Chicago. While raising two daughters in Wilmette, IL, Carolyn was an active member of the Benton House board, Junior League of Evanston and a volunteer in the Sandwich Shop at Evanston Hospital. As a member of the Church of the Holy Comforter, Carolyn committed many more hours to volunteering including membership in the Alter Guild, St. Helen’s Guild, as Chairwoman of the Rummage Sale, and to the church’s House Walk and Bazaar. Carolyn was a kind and loving person, devoted to her family, cherished by her friends and was always in the company of a rescued cat or two. She had a knack for design and decorating and was infamous as an untrained gourmet cook. She had an unmatched flair when it came to throwing dinner parties as the food was always outstanding, clever, beautifully presented and beyond delicious. Whether she was cooking for four or figuring out how to feed 400 people for the church’s House Walk, people raved about her food and its presentation. Carolyn was contracted by several local eating establishments to develop recipes for their menus. After the devastating loss of her husband, Jack, in 2009, Carolyn picked up the pieces of her life and began volunteering in Day Surgery at Lake Forest Hospital. Here she helped and comforted hundreds of patients and their families. She also made many wonderful new friends in the department and found purpose in her life once again. She continued to cook, read voraciously, have dinner parties, spend time with her local grandchildren and attend “Girls’ Night Out” with her beloved neighborhood friends. Carolyn was a gift to those whose lives she touched and will be missed by all who were fortunate to know her. Carolyn is survived by her two daughters, Alison Cartwright, Woodinville, WA and Hollis (Paul) Blume, Lake Forest, IL; her four grandchildren, Jesse Cartwright Dienner, Becky (Paul) French, Jack Blume and Lissy Blume; one great grandson, Alder French; sister-in-law, Marjorie Cartwright Vasholz and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on February 18, 2023 at 1:00PM at The Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster Ave., Lake Forest. Visitation with the family immediately following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Paws Chicago animal shelter, https://my.pawschicago.org/tribute-donations/Donate, or the charity of your choice. For more information, contact Reuland & Turnbough Funeral Directors of Lake Forest, 847-234-9649 or www.RTfunerals.com

Carolyn P. Cartwright

May 29, 1932 - December 22, 2022