Carol Jane Schonour

Carol Jane Irwin Schonour December 31, 1942 - November 5, 2026

Carol Jane Irwin Schonour, 83, of Lancaster, died on November 5, 2026. She was a lifelong advocate for children, education, and families, a dedicated public servant, and the steady center of a family and community she loved.

Carol was born in Philadelphia to Thomas F. Irwin, a Marine, and Jane I. Irwin, a physician. She grew up in Drexel Hill and Springfield and graduated from Springfield High School, where she marched in the color guard. Girl Scouting shaped her early life. In 1959 she was chosen to represent Pennsylvania at the Girl Scout Senior Roundup in Colorado. When her patrol leader lost the group's train tickets in Chicago, it was Carol who calmly found a way to fix the problem. That mix of practical good sense and care for others defined her for the rest of her life.

She graduated from Lycoming College in 1964 with a degree in sociology, just months after the sudden death of her mother. She began her career with the Children's Aid Society, placing babies for adoption. Her very first case, a frightened 13-year-old girl, stayed with her always and helped make her who she was: an advocate for children, for parents, and for families. She later worked for a children's agency in Reading, PA, and for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lancaster, where she helped write the policies that kept children safe. She also worked as the Community Affairs Manager for Gaudenzia - Addiction Treatment & Recovery Services, where she led fund raising efforts of $2 million to expand services for women in recovery and their children.

In May 1965, Carol married Phillip L. Schonour, and they shared more than 61 years together. They raised their three sons in East Petersburg, PA, where neighbors became lifelong friends. Carol believed that a community raises its children together, and she lived that belief. She was the consummate cheerleader for her sons, their friends and her grandchildren at innumerable games, concerts, and theater productions. She was a tireless volunteer at the East Petersburg Elementary School and at Grandview United Methodist Church where, among other roles, she and Phil taught Sunday School, led the youth group - and were members for 50 years. She organized events, parties, and celebrations, but she also showed up just as faithfully in times of challenge, illness, and loss.

Carol believed that ordinary people have a duty to serve. She was active in the American Association of University Women, served for years as judge of elections in East Petersburg, and was elected to the Hempfield School Board. She served through some of the board's most heated years and called it a real education in how to get along with people.

Those who knew Carol knew a woman who was sociable, direct, and quick to laugh, with a story for every occasion. She was strong in her faith, thoughtful with a gift, a note, or a visit to a friend, and she loved to prepare and share a meal with her family. She believed in education in every form, from college to the trades, and never stopped learning. She did not back down when something was unfair, and she never lost her concern for the people others overlooked. She kept friendships for a lifetime, from Girl Scout camp to Lycoming to East Petersburg and beyond. Most of all, she was devoted to her family and proud of her sons and grandchildren.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Jane Irwin. She is survived by her husband, Phillip; her sons, Lane, Craig, and Grant; her daughters-in-law, Sarah Jane, Jennifer, and Betsy; her grandchildren, Luke, Grace, Preston, Dean, Wilson, and Quinn; her sister, Alice Schonour; and her brother, Thomas Irwin, Jr.

A Service Celebrating Carol's life will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Grandview Church, 888 Pleasure Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. The family will receive family and friends at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be private and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute or the Hempfield Foundation. To send an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com.

Charles F. Snyder III

Funeral Home & Crematory

717-464-4600