Birth date: Nov 8, 1935 Death date: Nov 8, 2015
Decatur-Carol Louise Van Houdnos, 80, of Decatur, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2015 at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Carol was born November 8, 1935, in Thomasboro, Illinois, the daughter of Frederick H. and Irma P. (Michaels) Mai Read Obituary
Mrs. V…she was a good family friend of a dear friend of mine. I did not know her well, but I can still hear her laughing with Acte and Desiree and one Christmas she gave me the most beautiful snow globe. You are now with the angels, Mrs.V. You were a blessing for sure.
My heart goes out to Diane and Marty and other members of Mrs. V' family, We are all going to miss her. She had a successful life and I was fortunate to have her as a close friend for many years. The world is going to be less interesting now that she's gone.
Marty, Diane, and all members of the Van Houdnos family, I am truly sorry to know of your sudden loss and it is like a member of my own family has died as well. I may not have been in close touch with Mrs. V, but she has definitely been one of my "second mothers" all these years. I first got to know her, of course, when my sister Mary started dating Joe Comiskey and I got my own foot in the door to the Comiskey/ Van Houdnos/ Frazier circle of family and friends. But my earliest specific memory of Mrs. V is from early August 1981, the day after Mary disappeared, when Mrs. V organized a search party of, I believe, about 21 people to comb Millikin, Fairview Park and vicinity for any trace of my sister. Mrs. V thought the world of Mary, and her care and concern during that time were deeply appreciated by the Tirpaks and the Adermanns (my mom's family). There have been times more than others when I have been in touch with her, but we did keep in touch through the years. When Jack and Jean Comiskey left Decatur about 1993, Mrs. V's house became a major gathering place whenever the Comiskeys would come back to Decatur from Kalamazoo, MI and Sun City, AZ.Mrs. V was very caring and feisty and could have a wicked sense of humor. She called me "Meekel Michael" and, I think, sometimes "kiddo." I appreciated her sometimes unconventional way of looking at things. The two of us once went on a trip together to Kalamazoo when Joe and Ellen's daughter had her Sweet 16 birthday party. She told me stories of growing up in the Rantoul area; I'll always remember the one about the ex-drinker who often stood in the middle of the street longingly looking at the bar–although drink is not my problem, sometimes I wonder what I myself am in the middle of the street looking at! We almost got hit by a semi passing us that was carrying a long load of pipes. There were also a couple of embarrassments for me on the trip: a) I went with Joe and Ellen to a Mickey Dolenz concert and forgot to tell her (and I was her ride back to the motel where we were staying); and b) although I kept fastidious records of all our expenses, it turned into a royal Tirpakian mess when we got back to Decatur. I think my figures wildly seesawed from her owing me much more, to me owing her much more. An accountant I'm not! I tried as best I could to do her right.For some years, Marty has been a member of the Writers' Group in Springfield that I have co-facilitated with our friend Donna, and we have shared a few holiday evenings together with Mrs. V, and she and Donna have become friends. In fact, recently Mrs. V invited Donna to have Thanksgiving dinner with her; because Donna usually goes down to the Adermanns with me, we were discussing the possibility of having dinner with Mrs. V that same day after coming back to Decatur. Unfortunately, it will not be happening now. I will miss not being able to go, and no longer having a surviving "anchor" of the Comiskey/ VanHoudnos clan still in place in Decatur. But we are thankful that she spent her last evening enjoying herself at her birthday celebration, and that her end was not painful and prolonged. The Lord wanted her finally to come to the birthday/ Thanksgiving celebration above all others; may He grant eternal rest unto her, and through her passing make Heaven just a little more feisty and mischievous! ??Michael C. Tirpak
Where to start life will never be the same without my best friend in the whole world. Thank God she never suffered what amazing woman of faith and the most loyal friend a person could ever have. I met Ms. V As she preferred people younger than her to call her in 1987. My life forever will be blessed because of her. She held my hand through some pretty tough times in my late teens early twenty's. Wow can't believe I am almost 50 it don't seem possible. I'm so glad I got to have her in my life for so long. We will all miss her, but what an honor to have known her I am so sorry for your loss Diane and family and Marty. You had a great Mom . Please know she went in peace. She just went to sleep that's what can give all of us peace in our heart's knowing God got a very special angel. So look out she's watching over all of us. Rest in Peace my very, very special friend. I love you until we meet again, thank you Ms. Veecher's. love, Kathy lane
