Carrie (Poole) Duncker

Carrie Lynn Duncker (née Poole), 64, of Champaign, passed away at her home on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, May 24, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Owens Funeral Home. There will be a graveside service on Tuesday, May 26, at 12:00p.m. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jim Duncker of Champaign, her sons, Ben and Patrick Duncker and her sister Laura Longcore.

Carrie was born on June 3, 1961, on the south side of Chicago, the daughter of Joan and Richard Poole. She spent her early years in the Roseland neighborhood before her family moved to suburban Dolton. Dance was the focus of Carrie’s childhood and she advanced from student to instructor at Johnson Studio’s, where she gained a life-long second family with the Johnson’s.

Carrie was a 1979 graduate of Thornridge High School and maintained a close and cherished network of friends from her high school years throughout her life. Introduced through common friends, she began dating her future husband Jim in 1981.They were married on November 12, 1988, in Chicago and relocated to Champaign. Carrie reinvented herself through several careers, working as a dance instructor, hairstylist, and travel agent before ultimately finding her calling as a nurse. Dedicated to caring for others, she returned to school in her 40s to earn her RN (Parkland College) and BSN (Loyola University) degrees. She thoroughly enjoyed her years working at Carle Clinic and Carle Foundation Hospital, where her compassion and warmth touched many lives.

Away from work, Carrie enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, dancing, attending the theater, and listening to a wide variety of music. Above all else, she dearly loved her family and treasured the time they shared together.

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