Carol Diane Remes

Carol Diane Remes, nee Hatak, longtime resident of Oak Brook, passed away October 25, 2025, at Oak Trace in Downers Grove. Born December 17, 1933, to Charles and Camilla Hatak during the height of the Great Depression. Her doting parents established many of Carol's lifelong principles such as: • Money doesn't care who has it • Never touch the principal • You can think it, but don't say it
At 13, Carol welcomed her sister Camille into the world. Sadly, when Carol was 23 her parents had both passed on and Carol assumed full responsibility for Camille. These events didn't crack or diminish her faith or her ambition. Carol worked an office job by day and at night pursued her passion for singing. She sang at the Lyric Opera as a soloist and honed the skills that she would utilize for her whole life. Weekly church attendance and daily Bible study were a mainstay of her schedule and she carried that work forward for the remainder of her life.
Around this time Carol met Miles. After a suitable courtship, they married. Not long afterwards they welcomed their son Matthew and their daughter Bethany. Eight years later the family caboose arrived in the form of Charles.
Miles worked tirelessly to provide for the family while Carol worked tirelessly to ensure their children's proper upbringing. By the early 1970s, Miles asked Carol what she thought about starting an auto repair business. Carol wholeheartedly supported this effort and supported Miles in that endeavor. Eventually they moved the business to Westmont where it remains today under the thoughtful leadership of their grandson Charles Bawel and his father Brandon Bawel.
Carol traveled to Europe with her sister and beloved brother-in-law for a whirlwind tour through the greatest cities in the world. As an avid reader, Carol enjoyed visiting some of the places that she had only visited in her imagination.
Carol and Miles settled into enjoying their retirement and spending time with their grandchildren. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and their first-born son Matthew passed away (1999). This affected Carol profoundly. Her lifelong faith in Christ the Redeemer helped the family through that difficult time.
In the 2010s, their son Charles got married and added 3 more grandchildren to the tally. There's about a 30 year gap between the first phase of grandchildren and the second phase. Also in the past decade, Carol's grandchildren Charles and Brooke produced families of their own and delivered the first of the great grandchildren.
Carol is preceded in death by her loving husband Miles Remes and her cherished son Matthew Remes. She is survived by her daughter Bethany (Michael) Fus, and son Charles (Brooke) Remes; proud grandmother of Charles (Jenna) Bawel, Brooke (Madison Currin) McCarty, Theodore, Benjamin and Grace Remes; dearest great-grandmother of Carter, Nash, June, Tripp, Miles, and Margaux; dear sister of Camille (the late Donald) Pryber; loving aunt of Cyndi Pryber and Caroline (Timothy) Martini; great aunt of Sydney, Taylor and Patrick. Visitation Wednesday, October 29th, 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Sullivan Funeral Home, 60 South Grant Street, Hinsdale. Funeral Service 10:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church, 204 South Grant Street, Hinsdale. Interment to follow at Bronswood Cemetery, Oak Brook. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Zion Lutheran Church are appreciated. 630-323-0275 or www.sulllivanfuneralhomehinsdale.com Register Book can be signed Electronically Here To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol, please visit our floral store.