Carole Ann Robison

On May 16, 2020, Carole Ann Tabbert Robison, 82, decided she was sick of dealing with the coronavirus and left this earth to be with her beloved husband Bill. Born in Evergreen Park, IL, on March 16, 1938, to John William Tabbert and Florence Ramlow Tabbert, Carole was an only child who was doted on by her parents. She spent some early happy years in Southern California during her father's assignment in WWII, where she learned rough Spanish and hung out with the fishermen on Oceanside pier while her parents played cards with other Navy couples. She was treated to a meandering road-trip to most of the National Parks of the West during the family's back-and-forth trips between California and the south Chicago suburbs, instilling a lasting love of trees and natural beauty. Carole's father owned an auto service station around Palos Heights, and Carole learned her way around working on cars. On some of her trips bussing home from Blue Island High School (class of '56), she would drop in on a rival gas station and flirt with a cute grease monkey, showing off her grasp of auto terminology and skills with a grease gun. On May 1, 1956, this mechanic and future truck driver, William Albert "Bill" Robison, would sit her up in the wishbone crook of a Scots pine tree in Morton Arboretum in Lisle and propose marriage. For every May 1 since that date (until this 2020 of park closures), at least one member of the family, and often almost all of us, would re-create that walk through the Arboretum to "our" family tree.

Carole was a swinging flower child during the '60s and '70s, a church teen counselor and confidante, a receptionist at Palos Heights Hospital, a long-time preschool teacher for CLEWS in Orland Park as her Native American alter-ego Purple Cloud, an artist and singer, an opera aficionado (like her father, and like his cousin Bill Tabbert, the original voice of Lt. Joe Cable in Broadway's "South Pacific"), and a founding member of Christ Lutheran Church in Orland Park, where she made many of the banners still used for decorations in services today. She was also a gifted writer of simple, clever poems and illustrated children's stories that she loved to share with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When she ultimately passed, she was working toward the crescendos of a wide-ranging, multi-generational series of five "Carlisle the Camel" novels that she was writing simultaneously through anyone she could enlist to type for her.

Carole loved flowers and all things purple, especially violets, which seemed the perfect counterpoint to her personality: "no shrinking violet." She loved to be seen and appreciated, and she worked hard to make the world aware of her many talents. She delighted in shocking her grandkids and their spouses with tales of her exploits, and she had fun driving them around the neighborhood in Orland Park on her motorscooter while in her 60s, until a tough fall forced her back to her purple Ford Ranger pick-up truck. She continued the rides with grandkids and great-grandkids into her 80s, showing off her tricked-out golf cart Cubby around the neighborhood in Raymond, NH, where she moved in her later years.

She was difficult, obstinate, spoiled, mischievous, tough, witty, insightful, thoughtful, creative, eccentric, brilliant, and loving. We, her family, adored her deeply, and we will miss her. She, at various times, was a pet mom to a goose, a mallard duck named Killer, and usually a few dogs and more cats than the County would have been cool with. She never met a stray cat, dog, or neighborhood kid that she wouldn't bring home and feed.

For an only child, Carole leaves plentiful genetic material. Surviving are her six children: Cheryl Lynn (Paul) O'Brien, Christine Elizabeth (Thom) Whelan, Brian William Robison, Craig Alan Robison, Caryn Leslie Ryan, and Brooke Lauren Robison. Carole ("Gramma") was also treasured by her 23 surviving grandchildren: Mark O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, and Matt (Erin) O'Brien; Jonathan Whelan, Elizabeth (Neil Thomas) Whelan, Emily (Mike) Bosman, Meg (Adam) Hoog, and David (Alessia Anna) Whelan; Jessica (Steve Story) Robison and Isabel Robison; Daniel (Lydia) Robison, Christopher (Elizabeth) Robison, Erin Robison, David Robison, Craig Robison, and Benjamin Robison; Andrew (Leanna) DeCicco, Justin Cournoyer, Jason Cournoyer, Nicole Cournoyer, Dustin Jon Cournoyer, and Danielle Cournoyer; and Zackery Robison. And "GiGi" will be remembered, through her stories, by her 13 great-grandchildren: Paul O'Brien, Katie O'Brien, Kayla O'Brien, Paul Whelan, Brennan Bosman, Donovan Bosman, Brielle Bosman, Kellan Hoog, Celia Hoog, Eamon Hoog, Lucy Whelan, Job DeCicco, and Bartholomew DeCicco. Carole also leaves behind her brothers- and sisters-in-law: Art Robison, Bev Raber, Ron (Louise) Robison, Joan Kosieniak, and Dan (Anne) Robison, along with their families; her dear cousin-sister Sandy Glawe (George) Konley; assorted Ramlow cousins; and other extended family and dear friends. Carole was predeceased by her parents, brother-in-law Tom Robison, beloved long-time pastor Walt Ledogar, and her husband of 53 years, Bill.

This is a long obituary, but she would have felt like she deserved it! Thanks to all who have loved her and appreciated her and put up with her and supported her through her long, eventful life. Carole's ashes will be spread in several beloved places in Illinois, and a memorial service will be planned at Christ Lutheran when circumstances allow.

We pray that she will be reunited with her husband in the after-life, as he was surely alerted to the moment of her passing with her patented beckon, "Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillll!" May they have an eternity of haggling over projects and walking together through heavenly trees.