Carol Ann Kowalenko, née Fife, of Glen Carbon, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Eden Village in Glen Carbon at the age of 85.

She was born in New York, New York, on November 23, 1940, the firstborn daughter of John Fife and Rosalie Mastrorilli. Her parents typified the emigrant values of their Canadian and Italian heritage and instilled the importance of education and kindness in their daughters.

On August 7, 1960, Carol married Ilko William "Bill" Kowalenko.

Carol graduated from Hunter College in New York with a degree in archeology. When Carol & Bill moved to New Orleans, she completed an additional degree in accounting from Baylor University.

They moved often to support Bill's career as a manager of industrial plants. They resided in North Bergen, New Jersey, Charlotte, Michigan, New Orleans, Louisiana, Waco, Texas, and Toledo, Ohio. They travelled worldwide as Bill shared his expertise in glass production. Their family grew as they welcomed a daughter, Lisa, in 1964 and a son, Stephen, in 1980.

While in Toledo, Carol worked as a Certified Public Accountant for many years in the private sector, as well as a Cost Controller in a food processing factory. Carol found her dream job working as a Comptroller for the Toledo Arts Commission. She was able to promote up and coming artists and give them a platform to showcase their art work at the Toledo Museum of Art. Toledo residents might recognize the It's Reigning Frogs sculptures throughout the city or perhaps recall seeing some artwork outside of the Mud Hens stadium in downtown - these were some of the projects that Carol had a part in.

Her love for archeology, art, and travel became a lifelong passion for Carol. Her home was filled with artwork, artifacts, and various collections that showcased her passion for learning about new cultures. She also prioritized education throughout her life and was always interested in learning more about various topics. She was an avid reader and continued this hobby til the end of her life - reading several books a week.

She was an amazing cook and lovingly encouraged everyone to have an extra helping or two. Carol enjoyed entertaining and no one would ever leave hungry.

Family was important to Carol. She often reminded us of how special the time together truly is. She was active in every sense of the word as a mother and grandmother - building living room forts with Steve when he was young, encouraging a sense of adventure by traveling and visiting interesting sights, and prioritizing reading together with her grandkids.

When asked about Carol, those who knew her universally defaulted to one word - kind. She made life-long connections wherever she moved and maintained those friendships with her thoughtful and positive nature.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Ilko William "Bill" Kowalenko, who died November 29, 2025, and her son-in-law, Paul Ross. She is survived by her sister, Barbara J. DeSeta, nieces Rie Schwartz and Laura Morse, her daughter, Lisa Kowalenko, of New York, New York, and her son, Stephen William Kowalenko (Christine) of Edwardsville. She was the grandmother and is survived by her grandchildren, Ivan Kowalenko Ross of New York, New York, Sophia, Sydney and Luke Kowalenko and Carter Linn of Edwardsville.

For those wishing to honor her memory, memorial gifts may be made to the Toledo Art Commission (https://theartscommission.org/).

Barry Wilson Funeral Home in Maryville, IL will be handling the funeral arrangements. A Memorial Visitation will be held on April 30, 2026 from 10 to 11 am. The Eulogy Service will begin at 11 am.