Carol (Gordon) Illner

CAROL ILLNER (nee GORDON) aka Maggie McGiggles   Calling Hours:  2-4pm Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2022, at Spear-Mulqueeny Funeral Home, 667 Mentor Ave. Painesville, OH 44077.  Private family internment.  Born Dec. 10, 1930, at home to Ernest and Anna Gordon. Peacefully passed at home on Mar. 25, 2022, in the comfort and care of her family.  She grew up during the Great Depression being a daredevil and “street kid” who passed time roller skating at Euclid Beach Park; playing basketball and softball even though she threw like a boy and loved to bowl, water ski and swim.  Carol was an ardent fan of the Cleveland Indians “do or die.”  Her favorite player was Bob Feller and enjoyed any side-arm pitcher on any team.  Musically she could not carry a tune in a bucket, aspired to play the piano but never got around to it. She loved to dance liking music from the 50s, 60s, and early 70s especially Doo-Wop, Swing and Polka.  She graduated from Euclid Central High in 1948, where she was a drum-majorette and won the school spelling bee. She was married to Don Illner in July 1948 for nearly 57 years until his passing in 2005.  In 1950 they moved to Mentor Headlands where she lived the remainder of her life. She was very involved in the community as Secretary of the Headlands PTA and President of the Mentor Headlands Women’s Club and Den Mother to her sons’ Boy Scout Troop.  For several years she chaired the Mrs. Mentor Headlands Beauty Contest held on July 4th.  Carol was co-editor of the local Headlands News which, was published in her basement on a mimeograph machine and delivered to every Mentor Headlands home.   While she relished her time as a stay-at-home mom, Carol worked as an Executive Secretary and Office Manager for attorney Gordon Harrell. During that time, she also was a correspondent for the Painesville Telegraph.  She had several front- page articles while she was the Police Beat reporter. In 1978 Carol opened her antique and ephemera business Maggie McGiggles Antiques.   For 64 years everyone looked forward to the July 4th picnic which she hosted for family and friends. She loved playing volleyball into her 80s and started water gun fights.  Her interests were cooking, playing cards, board games, jigsaw and crossword puzzles. She loved driving; it was her “thinking time” and drove solo across country in the 80s but didn’t recall the trip back.  She loved the family without measure, enjoying their successes and suffering their “defeats.”  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Geraldine Gordon (sister), infant brother Ernest, special friends Marge Fellows and Kenny Evans.  Survived by sons Eric and Chris, daughters Deb Clark (Artie Ripp) and Laura Sterlekar (Tom); grandchildren Becca Badillo, Leah Farrar (Dan), Melissa Sterlekar (Justin Zaydel) and Andrew Illner; great-grandchildren Sarah, Sam, Anna, Claire and Sequoia; niece Michele Herasuta; and special friends Joyce Chorman and Sharon Evans.  Sadly,Carol will miss Opening Day this year - please feel free to wear your Cleveland Indians gear!  Mom was an avid reader so in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Mentor Headlands Public Library branch at 4669 Corduroy Rd. Mentor, OH  44060

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