Ilona M. Carey, 71

Ilona M. Carey, 71, of Lowry, died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Ilona Mae Carey, the daughter of Hayward Simonson and Julia (Alsaker) Zgoda, was born on Nov. 23, 1940, in Hamburg, N.D. Ilona and her sister Shirley, were seeing impaired and when they were young they attended school in Faribault at the brail and sight saving school. They lived in Faribault and only came home in the summer and on Christmas break. Ilona graduated from the MN Academy for the Blind.

On Aug.19, 1959, Ilona was united in marriage to Donald K. Carey in St. Paul. Ilona and Donald made their home in Shoreview. They owned/operated several bars in the cities and Wisconsin before moving to Lowry in 1983 where they owned The Last Stand (currently the Hatchery). Ilona and Donald loved to sing and play music together; Ilona played the piano. They shared 46 years of marriage before Donald passed away on June 22, 2006.

Ilona enjoyed singing, playing the piano and spending time with her family. She will be remembered as a kind, soft spoken mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. After struggling with her health for the last three years, Ilona passed away on Dec. 28, 2011, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud.

Ilona is survived by her mother, Julia Zgoda of Lowry; sons, Randy (Tammy Owens) Carey of Starbuck, Ron Carey of Lowry, Scott Carey of Glenwood and Steve (Shari) Carey of Danvers; four grandchildren, Jeromie Benedict, Jessica Carey, Blaze Carey and Dallas Carey; step-sister, Mona Turner of Lowry; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Carey; her father; sister, Shirley Kotiranta; and stepdad, Clarence Zgoda.