Cathy Jo Carney

Registry for Cathy Carney

Cathy J Carney, 50, of Davenport, IA, passed away peacefully Monday, November 28, 2022, at her home surrounded by family.

Cathy was born November 18, 1972, in Watseka, IL, the first child of Charles and Linda Miller, and was later joined by brother Michael. They grew up in Danforth, IL, where she learned to play the piano, organ and bake cookies alongside her Granny Wilken. The trumpet and other instruments followed. She began teaching piano on her own when she was just 16. She graduated from Iroquois West High School in 1990 and Illinois Wesleyan University in 1995 with a BA in Education.

After college, she moved to Lexington, IL, where she became Music Director at St. Paul Lutheran Church. She loved investing in the kids as a piano teacher, leading an annual Christmas program at the church, and as a substitute elementary teacher. Her quick wit, beautiful smile, and feisty personality made learning fun. She could sight-read nearly any music you put in front of her.

In 2000, she was introduced to Wes Carney by his sister. They were married on April 13, 2002, and she joined him in Ankeny, IA. She quickly rebuilt her piano studio and continued to grow in excellence earning Nationally Certified Teacher of Music status from the Music Teachers National Association and a graduate degree in Sacred Music from Drake University. They joined the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, where she frequently played for weddings and funerals.

Her favorite job was being a mother to four wonderful children, each uniquely reflecting her beautiful and strong-willed personality. When the family transferred to the Quad Cities, she gave up teaching piano to focus on homeschooling them until recently. She enjoyed traveling with Wes to the Caribbean, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Mexico.

Cathy was passionate that God was not surprised by cancer and therefore designed our immune systems accordingly from the beginning. She read everything she could find about healing the body naturally. She enjoyed many years of life without debilitating side effects or fear and continued to light up rooms with her smile.

Cathy is survived by many family members, including her loving husband Wes; son Kai; daughters Sage, Jaeda, and Ellery; parents Charles & Linda (Strode) Miller of Danforth, IL; brother Michael Miller of Manteno, IL; grandfather Roger Wilken of Danforth, IL; mother-in-law Colleen (Warren) Carney Harms Martin of Waverly, IL; sister-in-law Taren (John) Stob and niece Jennifer Stob of Villa Park, IL.

She was preceded in death by grandparents Glen Miller, Marilyn Miller Wilken, Fratie & Dorothy Strode; father-in-law Richard "Dick" Carney; nephew John Stob III; and three children in the womb who would have been lovingly welcomed.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 11:00 am at Heritage Church in Rock Island, IL, with a luncheon to follow.

The burial service will be at the East Cemetery in Waverly, IL, on Tuesday, December 6, at 1:00 pm, followed by a gathering at Waverly Christian Church.

Visitation will be Sunday, December 4, 2022, from 2-4 pm at Wendt Funeral Home in Moline, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Quad City Music Teacher Association (QCMTA) or to the family for a fund that will be established for the children.

Family and friends are invited to share memories and express condolences on her Memory Page at wendtfuneralhome.com.