Carol Jean Rice's Obituary
Mattoon - Carol Jean (Bundy) Rice, 80, of Mattoon, IL, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 21, 2025 at Harmony Center at Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025 from 1-5pm at Charleston Bible Church in Charleston, IL. A public Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 3pm at Charleston Bible Church in Charleston, IL. Final resting place will occur privately at Tippett Cemetery, Toledo, IL.
Carol Jean, the sixth of seven siblings, was born in Columbia, South Carolina on December 27, 1944 to Frank and Jenny (Jensen) Bundy. She graduated from Gladwin High School, Gladwin, MI in 1962 and from nursing school at Harper Hospital, Detroit, MI in 1965. She married Thomas (Mike) Rice on August 19, 1967. He survives.
Survivors also include: sons Andrew Rice of Charleston, IL and Benjamin (Susan) Rice of Bloomington, IL; grandchildren Whitton (Mara) Rice of Bloomington, IL; Sylvia (Trey) Storr of Cedarville, OH; Maren Rice and Ezekiel Rice of Bloomington, IL; sisters Helen Seiford of Placentia, CA and Loida (Ian) Callaghan of Murrays Beach, NSW, Australia; and a host of nieces, nephews, and in-laws. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Jenny Bundy; sisters Betty Fergason and Frances Halterman; brothers Ronald Bundy and Jonathan Bundy; and parents-in-law Vernon and Irma Rice.
Carol was the daughter of Christian missionaries living and serving fulltime in Guatemala, Central America. Her childhood home in Panajachel was on the shore of the picturesque Lake Atitlán. She attended a small boarding school in Huehuetenango throughout her elementary and middle school education. She learned to play piano, became fluent in Spanish, and developed lifelong memories with classmates. Returning to the US as a teenager, she lived with family friends in Gladwin, MI during high school and worked at Good News Camp during the summer months. Post high school education consisted of completing a three-year nursing program at the Harper Hospital School of Nursing in Detroit. Her graduation turned out to be the end of her medical career, as she elected to follow a path into Christian ministry. This led her to move to Grand Rapids, MI where she soon met her sweetheart Mike. A romance ensued which culminated in a wedding in 1967 and a marriage that lasted nearly 58 years.
Their early years of marriage were marked by Mike’s military service in Vietnam and the births of two sons. Following a few years on a farm in Cumberland County, the family of four eventually settled permanently in Mattoon, IL. Carol prioritized her family and was wife and mother first and foremost. She served tirelessly, often putting her family’s needs above her own. As the boys started school, she joined the workforce as a reserve employee at RR Donnelley & Sons printing plant and completed 28 years of service before retiring. Her work ethic, integrity, attention to detail, and willingness to work any available overtime made her a prized employee. She was a trusted friend to many and enjoyed swapping stories with her co-workers.
Carol loved being a mom. She was the biggest supporter for her boys in all activities, academics, athletics, and aspirations. Her daily presence and deep involvement in their lives created and nurtured a strong familial bond. She loved them dearly, and the boys never doubted it. As her four grandchildren came along, they experienced the same deep love and care. Weekend visits to Mattoon were cherished by all of them.
In the mid-1980’s, Carol’s love for family shined through in a life-changing way for her brother. John was a person with a cognitive disability which prevented him from becoming employed, supporting himself, or living with complete independence. His life in a group home in Michigan was stressful and less than ideal, and Carol envisioned a better life for him. She rescued him, essentially, with an offer to move to a Mattoon apartment. This allowed Carol to keep a watchful, caring eye over her brother, but afforded him an appropriate level of independence in a safe environment. The last twenty years of John’s life were happy ones, where he was included in family vacations, dinners out, and holiday gatherings – all because of Carol’s intervention.
Carol had a brilliant, analytical, and creative mind. She enjoyed puzzles, games, and brainteasers – the more challenging, the better. She enjoyed crafts, watercolors, and writing poetry. Normally a kind and gentle spirit, she was merciless when the Scrabble board came out. She loved to debate issues and longed for friendly conversation partners to challenge her thinking. And all the better if it happened during long walks in the summer.
Carol’s love for walking transformed from hobby to obsession during retirement when she learned about the Howl at the Moon ultramarathon held in Danville, IL. Entering her first event in 2010 at the age of 65, Carol walked nearly 27 miles during the 8 hour endurance race, showcasing her consistency and determination. She would go on to compete several more times in subsequent years, often registering in the running division instead of the walking division, so as not to be disqualified for any short bursts of jogging she felt compelled to do.
Sadly, the family began noticing subtle changes in Carol’s personality and demeanor around 2015. There were occasional bouts of forgetfulness, more challenges completing familiar tasks, and conversations that gradually became more superficial. When a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was given, it was shattering. From 2017-2022, Mike lovingly took on the role of caregiver and gave her as many years as possible at home. In 2023, when her needs became more than could be handled safely, she entered the Harmony Center memory care facility at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home in Mattoon where she would spend her final two and a half years of life. Mike’s love never ended as he devotedly arrived for his daily visits with her, showing the same consistency and determination that was a hallmark of his wife.
Carol’s life was marked by a deep, abiding faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As much as she loved her family, we all knew her love and devotion for her Heavenly Father was her top priority. She loved to study the Bible, memorize verses, and to live out what she learned in her life. She was an excellent speaker and enjoyed sharing devotionals in women’s groups. She wanted nothing more in life than to see others put saving faith in Jesus Christ. Many of us owe a debt of gratitude to Carol for showing us the way to Him.
As her family watched helplessly as Carol’s memories faded away, we were reminded of the following:
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NLT)
In acknowledgement of the value of God’s Word and as a tribute to Carol’s life, please consider committing a Bible verse to memory in 2025.
The Rice family would like to thank those who cared for Carol, especially in her final years. She received exemplary medical care administered with kindness which allowed Carol to maintain her dignity. Thank you to Dr. Daniel Llano and Dr. Aja Lystila from Carle Health. Special, heartfelt thanks to Darcy Bone, Julie Figgins and the entire staff of Harmony Center at Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home, Mattoon, IL.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators or Harmony Center at Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home.
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