Carole A. Ridder

Carole A. Ridder, age 87, of Batavia, passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at Delnor Hospital in Geneva surrounded by her loving family.

She was born Novemeber 30, 1937 in Joliet, Illinois, the eldest daughter of Harry and Elizabeth (Kohlmayer) Welter.

Carole lived, worked, volunteered, worshipped, and raised her family throughout the Fox Valley area. She embraced her love of travel with her loving husband, Jim, to see America and cruise the world.  

Carole worked at the First National Bank in Geneva until a fortuitous change of career led her Western Electric/ATT&T in West Chicago where she met her husband, and love of her life, Jim.  She spent her early years volunteering at Delnor hospital and donating blood on a regular basis.  A social butterfy, she played in several bridge clubs, joyfully and regularly, with her good friends, creating a lifetime of bonds.  Carole also enjoyed spontaneous and sometimes boisterous games of pinochle around the kitchen table with family.  Carole often assisted Jim with Shriner activities, decorating tables, creating lavish gift baskets for auction, and helping where needed for fundraising and family events.  Her commitment to her faith and love of Jesus Christ was a center for her life.   Her early worship was at Faith Lutheran Church in Geneva, a community that supported her through some difficult times.  More recently, Carole’s home of worship was New Hope Church in Geneva where she was a founding member.  She  looked forward to bringing flowers to weekly services, helping with hospitality, singing hymns, and studying the Bible with the congregation and Pastor Mark.   Carole was a loving mother, making sure kids got to school, sports equipment and sneakers were ready, and making Holidays special.  As her family grew and moved, Carole and her husband, Jim, made sure to regularly visit kids and grandkids across the country.  The “Traveling Ridders” made it to everyone’s house from California to New York and from Minnesota to Texas.  Carole loved making favorite stops along the way and always listening to books on CD.  Later in retirement, Carole enjoyed cruising vacations from Alaska to the Panama Canal, and Europe with her husband.   

She is survived by her beloved husband, Jim; children Michael (Tracy) Bennett of Lakeville, Minnesota, Kathryn Proulx of Cedar Park, Texas, Lisa (Ted) DiMagno of Perinton, New York, Cheryl (Albert) Cha of Los Altos, California; and 11 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Betty Brandenbuurg and Roger Welter.

A visitation for Carole will be held Friday, December 13, 2024  from 9:00 am until the time of her funeral service at 11:00 am at 324 E. State Street (Route 38), Geneva.

Burial will follow at Gardner Cemetery in Maple Park, Illinois.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in her name to

Shriners Childern’s Chicago

2211 N Oak Park Avenue,

Chicago, IL 60707

New Hope Lutheran Church, LCMC

PO Box 15

Geneva, IL 60134

Information 630-232-8233 or visit malonefh .com.

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