Elizabeth “Joanne” (Carroll) Shields
PEORIA - Elizabeth “Joanne” (Carroll) Shields, age 92, recent resident of Peoria Heights and Peoria (Buehler Home), passed away at 2:35 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at Buehler Home.
Joanne was born on November 19, 1930, in Peoria, to David “LeRoy” Carroll and Grace (Turner) Carroll. She was raised on her parents’ farm in Wyoming, Illinois, until attending St. Mary’s High School of Nauvoo. She then graduated from St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, and became a Registered Nurse, working for OSF St. Francis Medical Center.
Joanne then traveled the country providing her nursing skills to patients that otherwise could not afford to have access to medical care. She proudly served as the office manager and nurse for Dr. Henry Boldt, an Ophthalmologist in Peoria, for several years, and then worked as a registered nurse for both Galena Park Nursing Home and Proctor Place Senior Living in Peoria. Before retiring, she worked in the St. Thomas School office. Taking care of others and helping those in need was always her passion.
She married Derell E. “Jack” Shields on April 24, 1954, at St. Marks Catholic Church in Peoria, who preceded her in death on November 2, 1991. Joanne was also preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mary Ellen (Danny) Uranich of Peoria; and her brother, John “Jack” (Perry) Carroll of Santa Barbara, California.
Survivors include one daughter, Patti (Pat) Gratton of Dunlap; two sons, Joe (Mary) of Fishers, IN, and Jeff (Jennifer) of Peoria Heights; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Dorothy Miller (Harry) of West Peoria, Illinois, and Katie (Norm) Capponi of Roanoke, Illinois.
She was a devout woman of faith and a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Peoria Heights. Nothing was more important to her than her faith, helping others and enjoying time with family.
In her retirement, she served as a Trustee of the Richwoods Township Board of Trustees and a member of the Peoria Heights Police Pension Board. An avid sports fan, she never missed watching Notre Dame University football, University of Illinois and Chicago Bears football, as well as Chicago Cubs baseball. She was most proud flying the Chicago Cubs “W” flag after a win on her door at Buehler Home. Joanne also loved watching her grandchildren playing sports and participating in their other extracurricular activities.
Our family would like to thank the Buehler Home staff for their dedication and kindness over the past several years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas Catholic Church on Monday, October 23, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of mass. Msgr. Jason Gray will officiate and burial will follow in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.
In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation in her memory to OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois (https://x.osfhealthcare.org/foundation/give/children/choi), which has been instrumental in supporting our family over the years.
Friends and family are encouraged to log onto www.wrightandsalmon.com to sign the online guestbook, submit photos and share your thoughts on the memorial page.
Funeral arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Wright & Salmon Mortuary, 309-688-4441.