Carol L. Ergo (née Selle), passed away on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the age of 93.

Mother of five children: Jack, Emily, Janet, Rebecca, Paul – all with musical talent. Emily, Rebecca and Paul preceded her in death from a rare form of SMA. Jack is a concert pianist and Symphony Orchestra conductor; Janet, after a career in Library Science, currently is Director of the Children’s Playhouse, for the Wheaton Park District (Illinois).

Growing up in South Chicago, Carol met her husband to be, Jack W. Ergo, in her high school orchestra (Thornton High School in Harvey, IL). They fell in love on stage at Chicago Symphony Hall as members of the Chicago Youth Orchestra (1947) – Carol often talked about the first rehearsal as an 11th grader – as they began Beethoven 5th Symphony “the whole stage just trembled with the power of the orchestra and Jack and I went home different people”. She played in The Saginaw Symphony (Michigan) for 50 years, the Saginaw Germania Orchestra and additionally was the cellist for many mid-Michigan area performances. All this time she was raising her family and teaching cello lessons.

Carol Ergo (née Selle) was born in Riverdale, Illinois and comes from an extraordinary family of German and Dutch heritage – her father built the house they grew up in, and he took the train every morning at 6AM to downtown Chicago as a Union Carpenter. She grew up in Hazel Crest, Illinois and she and her three musical siblings: Janice, Nancy and Ronald, attended The University of Illinois, majoring in music education.

Moving to Michigan in 1958, she organized and directed many children’s choirs and was an ordained minister for Community of Christ. She served as Pastor of the Center Road Congregation providing many years of ministry. She and her family attended church camps (Sanford Reunion, Michigan) and national conferences every year for decades.

At age 52 she became a 2nd grade teacher and taught at Plainfield Elementary, in Saginaw Township. Among her many Saginaw accolades: Play therapist for St. Mary’s Hospital Pediatric Dept.; Vocal Music Teacher/Choral Director, Eisenhower High School; and Music Teacher, Sherwood Elementary. Church activities include Music Director, Choir Director, Director of Church School, numerous workshops and church camps.

Carol loved to go camping and each summer the family would take long car trips. Carol and Jack have been to 49 states. She traveled to Europe and sang as guest chorister with the Independence Messiah Choir in Great Britain, Wales, Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic.

After living in Michigan for 68 years, Carol and Jack moved back to the Chicago area (Naperville) to be near family.

Carol leaves her husband, Jack, of 73 years, brother Ronald Selle (Joann Selle) of Peotone, Illinois; son, Jack R. Ergo (Jolia Poltorak); of Lamoni, Iowa; and daughter, Janet Ergo Zimmerman (Guy Zimmerman) of Carol Stream, Illinois; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2:00 PM at Community of Christ, 300 N. Center Rd., Saginaw, MI 48638, (989) 792-3469. A reception will follow at the church.

A private interment will be held at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Saginaw, MI.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:

Outreach International, 112 W. 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, (888) 833-1235, https://outreach-international.org/tribute-giving/

Praise God with a blast of the Ram’s HORN

Praise God with the LYRE and HARP

Praise God with the TAMBOURINE and DANCING

Praise God with STRINGS and FLUTES

Praise God with a clash of CYMBALS

Praise God with loud clanging CYMBALS

Let everything that breathes Praise the Lord

From Psalm 150

Michigan arrangements by W.L. Case & Company Funeral Directors Saginaw Township, 4480 Mackinaw Rd., Saginaw, MI 48603, (989) 793-9700.  www.casefuneralhome.com

Illinois arrangements by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL 60540.