On the morning of December 21, 2024, Mom passed away peacefully after a recurring battle with cancer, surrounded by her family.

Carol was born in Indiana and raised in Arkansas and Chicago, Illinois. While in her 20s mom headed west to California, as many young people do, and landed in San Diego. After a couple years she relocated to Humboldt County in the late 1960s. She took a clerical job with the County of Humboldt at the County Court House in Eureka. In 1970, she purchased her first home, a small two-bedroom house on Fickle Hill Road in Arcata. Not long thereafter, Carol was introduced to her future husband and our father, Edward Schillinger through mutual friends. They were married at their house surrounded by friends, family and Redwood trees in 1973. A reception followed at Merryman’s Beach House at Moonstone Beach. Carol and Ed acquired an adjacent property and later built their dream home to have room to raise their four active children. Jake, Max, Gus, and Emilie are convinced that our beloved mother is now in heaven and yelling at our father Ed (AKA Pop) to come up from his tinkering on instruments and equipment in the “barn” (his workshop) to get in the house before his dinner ran cold.

Mom was heavily involved in her children’s schooling and was President of the PTO at Jacoby Creek School in the 1980s, where she was proud of the education that was provided. She was a fixture at her children’s numerous sporting events: track and field, bicycling, cross country, swimming, soccer, baseball, basketball, and triathlons. One year, she remembered she had kept scorebook for an astonishing 83 games for the kids. She loved hearing her youngest son talk about basketball from his coaching. Mom also dabbled in politics on various campaigns. Her working career culminated with a stint as a Medical Liaison-Social Worker for the County of Humboldt. She was heavily invested in equality and opportunities for all people that wanted to better themselves. She had a unique and innate ability to communicate with young and old, and all backgrounds. It stemmed from being well read and versed in life’s experiences. Mom possessed tremendous wisdom. Additionally, her cooking and baking was raved about, and at times did so for large groups of family and friends.

After living in Arcata for well over 40 years, she purchased a second home to be closer to her sister Linny and help her take care of their aging mother. She was able to find a delightful house and create new friendships on her mature tree lined cul-de-sac in Southwest Illinois near St Louis, MO and owning this house allowed mom to return to her Midwestern roots. The hospitality and mom’s gregariousness were the ideal fit for that neck of the woods. A neighbor said that when she moved in, she became a force and transformed the neighborhood in a positive manner. While Mom split time between her Illinois house and her home on Fickle Hill in Arcata, she always considered Arcata as her primary residence. To mom, Arcata was always home. It was the place where she had put down roots and raised her family after all.

Always putting family first, Carol finally achieved her own longstanding goal of traveling to Ireland, which she did in the summer of 2024 with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. She was completely thrilled by the journey.

Lastly, mom loved plants and gardening. She could spend hours toiling and caring for them. Her garden was her happy place and a source of joy, care, and growth. She was simply delighted to work and talk about them.

When mom became sick, her wittiness, humor and storytelling was quite a fixture for the medical personnel and epitomized her personality for all of those who met her during her time on Earth.

Mom’s life was a blessing to all of us.

Carol is proceeded in death by her father John Jacks, mother Beatrice Jacks, Brother William “Bill” Jacks, husband Edward “Ed” Schillinger, nephew Scott DeLisio, and her beloved sister Linny DeLisio. Carol is survived by her youngest brother John Jacks (jr.), children Jakob “Jake” Schillinger (Alicia), Max Schillinger (Kristine), August “Gus” Schillinger (Devon), and Emilie Schillinger-Themens (Justin), grandchildren Alex, Anna, Dexter, and Brooklyn, and along with numerous other nephews and cousins.

A private memorial with family will be held at her Arcata home on Saturday, May 31, during which some of her cremated remains will be spread on the family property per her wishes.

A celebration of life for Carol will be held on Sunday June 1, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka. All friends of Carol are invited to share stories and celebrate her memory.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Carol Schillinger’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.