Beloved daughter, sister, wife, niece, aunt, grandma and friend Carol Ann Riley, 72, of San Clemente, died November 14, 2022 after complications from a respiratory illness.

She is survived by her husband of 38 years Thomas Stemper: her sisters Ellen Sloan of Oakton, VA; Janet Riley (Rudy Mazariegos) of Silver Spring, MD; her brother Walter Riley of Palatine, IL; her nieces Katelyn Sloan of Falls Church, VA, and Erin McGowan of Brisbane, Australia; her nephew and Godson Lt. Riley Mazariegos of Norfolk, VA; nephews Aran Mazariegos of Santa Barbara, CA, and Sean Riley of McHenry, Il; her life-long best friend Joan Heidenreich of Pineville, NC; and her beloved dog Molly. She was predeceased by her loving parents Walter Culkin Riley, Jr., and Mary Jane Riley.

She loved her grandchildren-by-marriage including John Stanfield, Chelsea Jungles and Danny Branske, and her precious great grandchildren by marriage. She had three step-children as well. Carol had a special place in her heart for her young neighbor Cooper Fisher, who became her “bonus grandchild” after walking her dog and helping her with chores for several years.

Carol was born in Chicago and spent her early years in Framingham, MA, and Albany, NY, where she learned and loved to skate and toboggan. She graduated from Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, IL, in 1968. An honors graduate of DePaul University, Carol was a legal secretary at various firms in Chicago, where she was known for her lightning fast shorthand and typing, and for her ability to prepare complex real estate closings.

Together with her husband Tom, she ran the legendary Workingman’s Palace, a popular neighborhood bar in Chicago. She prepared enormous Thanksgiving celebrations for Workingman’s regulars and opened the bar late in the day on many holidays, because she understood the important connection point their bar played in the lives of so many. Eventually, she relocated to Southern California, where she worked in the attendance department at San Clemente High School. While working there, she earned a certification in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of California Irvine.

She valued education and loved working with students. She encouraged those struggling to keep trying, sometimes providing tutoring assistance to help students earn their diplomas. One student said that she and her sister were homeless throughout high school, but Carol, together with the guidance counselor, supported her, provided tea and food to her during recess and helped them pursue their dreams of going to Rocky Mountain College to become horse trainers. “She was an amazing woman and will be missed dearly,” the student wrote. Her sister said Carol helped their family get a home and a car their senior year and that she was a sounding board for her at school. “I’ll never forget what a wonderful woman she was and how she touched my life. She gave us faith, hope, and courage to be what we wanted and didn’t let our situation define us. I’m forever grateful to her,” she wrote. Another student wrote to say, “She truly cared about the students at SCHS and helped out when she could. She pushed me to graduate high school and paid part of my first semester at Saddleback College.” There are many similar stories about her dedication to students.

Carol was also known for her outspoken nature and held views that reflected her Irish Democratic Upbringing. She marched for the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. She consumed political news daily.

As her high school picture shows, Carol had beautiful and well-coiffed hair. She helped do others’ hair also including the residents of St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in Palatine, IL, where she volunteered. She also volunteered with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago where she led a support group for other people coping with epilepsy, as she did.

She was gifted at crochet, enjoyed cooking and baking and had an active social life. She treasured Friday afternoons with “the girls” at Fratello’s restaurant in San Clemente and time spent with their amazing neighbors on Calle Heraldo, especially the Granges, the O’Briens, the Nilssen-Hillerts, the Fishers and too many others to name. She loved the many dogs she had over the years: Ollie 1 and Ollie 2, Maggie, Katie, Duffy, Caesar, Cleo and her surviving and beloved companion Molly. She treasured time with family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Donations in her memory may be made to the San Clemente High School Education Foundation, or you may donate in Carol’s honor to the Epilepsy Foundation of Chicago. 

The family thanks you for the kindness and love you have shown Carol and for all efforts to honor memory.