Carol M. Howells Obituary (1935

Carol M. Howells, age 90, of Pontiac, IL, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at her residence. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Gretchen Stinebaugh officiating. A public visitation will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Calvert and Martin Funeral Home, located at 413 N. Main Street in Pontiac. Memorials in Carol’s memory may be made to the Livingston County Community Pantry. Carol was born on December 7, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Ernst Maisenhalder and Frida (Baier) Maisenhalder. She married Gary Howells, on October 25, 1958. He preceded her in death on June 26, 2004. She is survived by her two children: Karin (Mike) Kelleher and Peter (Diego Gonzaga) Howells; three grandchildren: Katrina (Evan) Petrone, Carol Kelleher, and Anna Kelleher; and one great-grandchild: Aurora Petrone. Carol graduated from Miami University in 1958. She owned and operated Holiday House Gifts in Pontiac, IL, for 20 years with her husband Gary. She also helped Gary operate the Pontiac Elks Club Golf Pro Shop. She volunteered for many years at the food pantry and for the OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center’s gift store. Carol was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pontiac and the Clionian Society Literary Club. She served for many years on the board of P.R.O.U.D in support of downtown Pontiac. She won the 2009 Rotary Pontiac Citizen of the Year Award for her service to the community. Carol was an avid bird watcher and loved nature. She also enjoyed traveling and seeing the world. She moved overseas with Karin and Mike with her grandchildren to the Republic of Georgia for a year, visited relatives in Germany with Gary, took regular trips to interesting places across the Midwest with her friends, recently traveled to Brazil to meet Diego’s family and walked the Great Wall of China. She was an avid reader of mysteries and thrillers, and supporter of the Pontiac Public Library. She also loved classical music and dancing with Gary. She also enjoyed practicing yoga with her friends, playing bridge with her bridge club, and caring for her garden of perennials. Above all, Carol loved her family and friends with her whole heart. Memories of her will be cherished forever by the ones who loved her most. This obituary may be viewed, and a guestbook signed at www.calvertmemorialhome.com or visit us on Facebook.