Carole Jean Hessel Ruby

1939 - 2024

Carole Jean Hessel Ruby

Carole Jean Hessel Ruby, born February 19, 1939, in Muskegon, MI, passed away on October 26, 2024, in Batavia, IL. She was the cherished daughter of Emma A. Helmkamp and Lyle L. Hessel.

Carole graduated from West Aurora High School in 1957 and received her bachelor’s degree in education from Illinois State University in 1961. She went on to earn her master’s degree from Northern Illinois University.

Carole married John Wesley Ruby on December 27, 1960, and together they created a loving family filled with adventure and joy. They spent summers traveling North America in their 1972 Volkswagen camper, attending baseball games, camping, and hiking with their two children. Carole and John shared a passion for international travel, focusing on exploring art museums and enjoying musical performances wherever they went.

A dedicated educator, Carole taught the fields of elementary education, home economics, and special needs for students with disabilities at McCleery Elementary School, Hope Wall School, and West Aurora High School. She earned the prestigious honor of Kane County Educator of the Year in 1981, a testament to her commitment to her students and the community. After retiring in 1994 from West Aurora School District 129, she became the director of Wesley Preschool, where she continued to make a positive impact on young lives.

Carole had a deep love for music. She played the flute in high school and college and performed with the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra for several years. Additionally, she spent many memorable summers with Berkshire Choral International, singing with John both in Massachusetts and around the world. She and John were both active members of the Elgin Master Chorale. Her passion for music enriched her life and those around her.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, John Ruby of Aurora; her children, Steven Ruby of Aurora and Kirsten (Gregory Hendrickson) Ruby of Urbana; granddaughters, Holly (Joshua McCombs) Ruby of Pasadena, TX, and Tori Ruby of Riverside; her sister, Valerie (Spenser) Havlick of Boulder, CO; her brother, Darryl (Linda) Hessel of Whitesburg, GA; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Ruby of Geneva and Evelyn Harris of Harrisburg, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Norman Hessel.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 11 a.m. at New England Congregational Church, 406 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora.

Donations in Carole’s name may be made to the Elgin Master Chorale.

Arrangements by The Healy Chapel, Aurora. For further information, please call 630-897-9291 or visit healychapel.com to leave an online condolence.