Carol Joan Hanrahan

Today, the world is a little less spunky. Carol Joan Hanrahan (née DeRoo) passed away with family by her side on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at Kingston Care Center of Sylvania. She was known as "CJ" to her late husband, William "Bill" Hanrahan; "Mom" to her seven children, Katie (Dave) Lankard, Mike (Rhonda), Molly (John) Finn, Mary (Scott) Kaser, Elizabeth (Brett) White, Kerry (Mike) Morgan, and Kelly (Sean) Paulus; "Nana" to her 21 grandchildren, Megan (Wade) Coffman, Missy (Zach Campi), Nick (Lauren), and Lauren Lankard; Rhett Hanrahan; Morgan, Maggie, Ryan and Sean Finn; Katy, Zach and Kevin Kaser; Lucas, Max and Kara White; Molly, Drew and Reed Morgan; Jack, Anna and Grace Paulus, and her three great-grandchildren Ava, Claire and Luke Coffman; and "Cokes" to her siblings, nieces, and nephews.

You cannot begin to capture a woman who was so lively and carefree. She was born the first of six siblings in the mid-30s in Moline, IL, to her adoring parents, Jean and Eugene DeRoo. Carol was fun, joyful, engaging, curious, caring, competitive, quick, and smart. She earned every minute of her life. She dressed well, she laughed often, she raised a beautiful family (she felt she hit the jackpot with her children-in-law), and she knew how to have fun!

Carol was a lifelong learner. She quickly picked up the rules of the endless extracurricular activities her children and grandchildren got into. She read hundreds and hundreds of novels over her lifetime, inspiring generations of readers in her family, and between working and raising this big family, she still found time to learn from the world - traveling even to Paris and China in her 70s.

Carol was at every event wearing show-stopping high heels, perfectly styled hair, signature jewels, and an air of fabulousness.

She was well loved and loved all her friends equally in return, enjoying a rich social life that would make the Roaring 20's jealous! Annual Christmas parties and cookie parties, weekly tee times, lunches, dinners, and drinks with friends, and family parties that were a tour de force to pull off.

We will remember her in all the traditions she has given us like barnyard pancakes, scavenger hunts, "I Love You" breakfasts, lines from "The Princess Bride" and "The Sound of Music", card games like "Lunk", leftover Thanksgiving whipped cream in your coffee, homemade Halloween costumes and dolly clothes, performances of the 12 Days of Christmas, a perfectly made bed, and a bottle of Chardonnay by the fire.

She was a pillar of grit - a woman who went to school when most did not, a woman who worked when most did not, and a woman who continued to learn and care long past when it mattered for her to do so.

Carol Hanrahan will be remembered with love. We picture her sitting at her kitchen table, glass of Chardonnay in hand, surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones, with her head thrown back, wiping away a tear of laughter. You can almost hear her rings hitting the table.

Thank you, Carol. Thank you, CJ. Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Nana. Thank you, Cokes. You will be unbelievably missed.

We ask you to please celebrate her in death as she celebrated in life: have a drink, wear something fabulous, and laugh with us.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at from 4-7pm at Walker Funeral Home at 5155 Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, OH. The Funeral Mass will be on Friday, July 24 at 10am at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 5373 Main Street, Sylvania. The family wishes to thank the staff of Kingston Care Center of Sylvania, Guardian Angels, and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their support and kindness.

Memorial contributions can be made in Carol's name to a local Catholic school of your choice.