Carol Virginia Hanrahan

Carol Virginia Hanrahan, a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, and cousin, passed away in her home on December 20, 2025 after an arduous battle with cancer. A native of Springfield, Illinois, Carol always carried a piece of her hometown in her heart, finding a sense of peace in the place where she was born and raised. Carol was exceptionally bright; she received her Bachelor’s in math and physics at William Woods University and her Master’s in physics at University of Missouri - Rolla. Carol’s career took her to Southern California for a job at Rockwell, where she would meet her husband John. Carol and John were married in September 1985. They loved their life together in Laguna Hills, where they had three children, a menagerie of beloved animals, and a beautiful garden. Carol’s lifelong passion was horses; she enjoyed both horseback riding and driving. Carol was also a writer, an expert pie baker, an exceptional jam maker, an artist, and a creative sewist. Carol loved deeply and was deeply loved by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents James Edward Williams and Carol Virginia Williams. Carol’s love and memory lives on with her husband John, their three children, John, Virginia, and Elizabeth, her two grandchildren, John and Jack, and her two brothers, James and Roger, and their families. Her family will celebrate her life and legacy in Springfield, Illinois in April.