Marie Fay
Marie D. Fay, age 92, of Dubuque, Iowa, and formerly of West Union, Iowa, was called home peacefully at 4:55 a.m. on Sunday, March 26, 2017, at Stonehill Care Center, surrounded by her loving family.
To honor Marie’s life, funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, June 9, 2017, at the Church of the Resurrection, 4300 Asbury Road, Dubuque, with Rev. Joseph Hauer officiating.
Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.
Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, is in charge of arrangements.
Marie was born on Dec. 25, 1924, in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of Henry Alphonse and Clara (Shirmer) Begley.
Marie was raised in Dubuque and was a proud graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy, Class of 1942.
After graduation, she would meet Oliver Fay and later marry on June 22, 1946, at St. Patrick’s Church in Dubuque. Marie and Oliver were blessed with 66 years, and seven wonderful children together before he was called home ahead of her on Dec. 3, 2012.
Their work would take them to several different cities throughout the years, including Fort Madison, Waukon, and most notably West Union, but they eventually returned home to Dubuque after retirement.
Marie was always a tenacious and hard worker who gladly put her talents to work as a bookkeeper at H&W before finally helping Oliver with his business ventures.
Marie was also an incredibly talented seamstress who especially loved to make dresses for her family. In her free time, she enjoyed the challenge of working puzzles to completion, and she was also known to be quite the green thumb whose beautiful violets were continually on display for all to enjoy.
Marie’s greatest joy in life, though, was spending time with her beloved family, especially her grandchildren. Whether an outing to Village Inn for a slice of pie, a quick trip to Wal-Mart to visit with friends, or simply one of her several trips out of town with family, Marie was content just to know they were together.
Our hearts are broken, and weigh heavy, with the loss of our dear sweet Marie. But we discover peace in knowing that she’s had a full 92 years to bless our lives and that now she is joyfully visiting with all of her family who’ve been waiting patiently for her Heavenly arrival over these past few days.
Those left to cherish Marie’s memory include her six children, Dianne (Ben) Andersen of East Dubuque, IL, Dennis (Sherry) Fay of Amhurst, WI, Debbi (Bill Christiansen) Fay of Mesa, AZ, Douglas (Dana) Fay of Overland Park, KS, Doreen (Tom) Weston of Cambridge, IL, and Donna (Dan) Walling of Dubuque, IA; 15 grandchildren, Mark (Jenny) Bodensteiner, Michael (Monica) Bodensteiner, Elizabeth Andersen, Erin (Brian) King, Joel (Lori) Taylor, Stacie (Steve) Russ, Steven (Kallie) Sneed, Katie (Mike) Nuncio, Ilana Fay, Phillip (Yael) Fay, Nathan (Miryam) Fay, Heather Weston, Kiah Weston, Danielle (Aaron) Boosinger and Nicholas Walling; and 20 great-grandchildren.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Oliver Fay; a son in infancy, Daniel Fay; two grandsons, Daniel Fay and Austin Walling; and a sister, Cecelia (Joe) Frey.
In lieu of flowers, Marie’s family requests that you sit down to a pleasant meal with someone you love and thoroughly embrace the moment together.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com.
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