Carolyn Manella age 106 at rest peacefully on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at the Pearl at the Tillers, Oswego, IL.

She was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 12, 1917, the daughter of the late Louis and Henrietta (nee Kreiling) Rothbauer.

In 1940, known as "Care", she was united in marriage with her first love, Arthur F. Mertes. Four years after Art's passing, Carolyn was married to Edward Berowski in 1962. With Ed's death, Carolyn and childhood friend, Tom Walsh began a 19-year friendship. After Tom's passing, Carolyn met Robert Manella. They were married for eight years until his death in 2007.

Carolyn was a faithful member of St. Anne Catholic Church in Oswego and the St. Anne Seniors. Care was a resilient, peaceful, joy-filled woman, who when asked what her secret to long life is, would respond, "I trust in the Holy Spirit and don't worry about anything." Her motto was: Don't Worry, be Happy.

She is survived by her daughter, Carole Anne Mertes McNair and son, Thomas Berowski (Rena), treasured as "Gram" to Grandchildren, Art Mertes (Anja), Dr. Chris Mertes (Karen), Kathryn Mertes Egland (Dan), Dr. Donald Mertes, Sally LaPoint (Brad), Robert Mertes (Tara), John McNair (Doris), James McNair (Lara), Tim Berowski, and Matt Berowski (Kiersten); Great-Gram to 20 and Great-Great-Grandma to three; God-Daughters, Darlene Brideau and Gail Mertes Finegan, and God-Son, Robert Caponera;  Cousins Marie Schorn, Margurite Drozd, George Kreiling, Jack Rothbauer and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her son, Arthur C. Mertes, her parents, brothers, Louis and Ray and sister, Henrietta Caponera and Care's husbands, Art, Ed, Bob, Fiancée, Tom and beloved son in law Leon McNair.

A visitation for Carolyn will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024, from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the DUNN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME with CREMATORY 1801 S. Douglas Road Oswego, IL 60543. Funeral Saturday, 9:30 A.M. from the funeral home, with chapel prayers and procession to St. Anne Catholic Church 551 Boulder Hill Pass Oswego, IL where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M.

Private Entombment will be held at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.

Memorials may be made to Macular Degeneration Research, P. O. Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053.

For information, 630-554-3888 or visit her memorial page at www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com