MARY FABER

Mary Faber, age 93, of Maple Park, claimed the promise of her Savior in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 4, 2023. She was born May 28, 1930 on the family farm in Sycamore, IL, to proud and loving parents, Robert and Margaret Butt.“Mary Margaret” was born into a humble household and in later years liked to recall tales of outdoor plumbing, chopping wood for the stove that also provided heat for her home, the exciting installation of electrical wiring and indoor plumbing and listening intently (through the floor grate in the loft that doubled as a bedroom for her and her younger sisters) for the birth of her sister Judy, happening below.  When Mary was 6 years old (1936) she was playing among some feed bunks in a barn with her beloved friend and slightly older Aunt, Jane Usczienski when she stepped on a rusty nail. She went to her mother Margaret to show her the injury, and her mother knew something wasn’t right.  An urgent trip to the doctor resulted in a more urgent trip to the hospital to address a rapidly developing infection that certainly would have proven fatal. Being before the days of Tetanus shots and Penicillin, the decision was made to remove Mary’s left leg below the knee. With the financial help of the good people of Virgil township, a prosthetic was acquired and she never let it slow her down. An avid Kane County 4H member (Lily Lake Clover Club Chapter)  in her teen years, it wasn’t unusual to see Mary’s name in the Elburn Herald extolling her accomplishments in frozen food prep and sewing. She even represented the local chapter during a trip to the State Fair on the leadership committee. In 1947 Mary entered the “Queen of Elburn Days” contest and came in second place with over 2000 votes. During high school, Mary worked for the Elburn Herald for a time and upon graduation went to work for the iconic Elgin Watch Company where she says they locked her in a small room in the basement to count out the tiny jewels used in the watch faces. Not long after, a returning service man by the name of Tony Faber who was working as a hired hand for Mary’s father Robert, caught her eye. Tony’s little niece Marjorie likes to tell the story of riding between Mary and Tony in his brand new car (acquired by draining his bank account of the funds accumulated during the war) and thinking “there might be something here”. Maybe it was the new car or the splash of grey hair on a young man’s head, but Mary’s heart was stolen and 65 years of marriage followed. After marriage, Mary and Tony set upon their new life of farming and together attempted to double the population of Virgil township under one household. What followed was the typical life of a farmer’s wife, caring for the torrent of children that followed, gardening, cooking, and cleaning. Mary’s children fondly remember her outdoors in a scarf, either hanging or taking down the ever-present laundry, hanging from the telegraph wire like clothes lines that seemed to stretch into infinity. On September 12, 1961, tragedy struck when Mary and Tony’s then youngest son, David was killed in a farming accident. The heartache suffered by the entire extended Butts and Faber families is still not forgotten. Mary returned to the working world to help supplement income by taking a part-time job at Richardson Electronics near Lafox in the early 70’s but found her stride when she obtained a full-time job as a nurse’s aide at Community Hospital in Geneva, the same hospital where her leg was taken so many years before. By the late 70’s a life of hard work and near constant presence of a child on her hip had taken its toll on Mary’s back and her duties were adjusted to that of a unit secretary, a job she would hold for another 30 years until retirement. Mary was well remembered by her co-workers for her timeliness, diligence and “not taking any s*** from the doctors”. Mary liked to tell the story of the time she was “promoted” to purely administrative duties in the office. After a few days her boss noticed that her normal friendliness had disappeared and had approached her to ask why. “I don’t like working for you” was her terse reply. She was returned to the unit immediately. As Mary grew older, she never lost her zeal and enjoyed exercising in various ways, even riding a bicycle, which meant occasionally having her prosthetic leg fall off on the road in the process. One of her favorite pass-times was working on jigsaw puzzles. Visitors to the Faber household could always count on a work-in-progress to be found on a folding table in the living room and she welcomed the help of any and all. A favorite prank on Mary was to steal a puzzle piece and later be the one to “finish” the puzzle. On August 18, 1988, tragedy struck again when daughter Margaret “Mitz” who had been struggling with eating disorders died suddenly and unexpectedly at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago where she was being treated. Mary and Tony found a peaceful retirement after purchasing the home in 1991 built by her Father many years before. They enjoyed the rest of their days together gardening, spending time with grandchildren, and participating in local community enterprises. Tony passed away on January 2^nd 2004 and Mary kept the couples’ legacy going for the many years that followed. Mary had to endure the passing of her beloved eldest son Bill, on January 13, 2018 after watching him wage a heroic many year’s battle with colon cancer. On February 18^th, 2022 tragedy struck one last time for Mary when her beloved daughter Pat, her closest confidant, caregiver, and friend died unexpectedly. Pat’s missing companionship took a toll on Mary. Shortly after her Pat’s passing Mary took a seemingly harmless fall which opened a wound on her amputated leg. The old handicap that she had completely shrugged off for 86 years had suddenly become a major challenge of her mobility. She endured daily wound packings and eventually surgery was attempted to get her back on her feet…well, foot. Mary finally put her care into the hands of her sons and daughters at son Tom’s house. Over her last months enjoyed the presence of countless family members and friends, could often be found with newborn goats, kittens, and rabbits on her lap, and even found an uneasy friendship with “Buttons” a mother raccoon who along with her new offspring frequented Tom’s back deck and, annoyingly, the bird feeders placed in the front picture window for her enjoyment. Mary succumbed to a final illness that she stubbornly battled for several days much to the amazement of her caregivers. She is survived by her sisters Judy (Mick) Yagen, Rose Jean (Ronald) Hylland, and Ruth (Tim) Hoyt. Her sons Tom (Teri), Mike, Don (Patty), Jim (Renda) and Paul (Jamie) Faber, her daughters Barb (Rick) Jump and Diane (Dale) Goscinski, 20 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband of 65 years Anthony Faber, parents Margaret and Robert Butt along with her sisters, Elsie Isabelle, Betty (Booker), and brother Robert Butt. She also survived the death of her sons David Faber and William Faber, and daughters Margaret “Mitz” Faber and Patricia Probst, and an infant grand-daughter Brandy Probst. Visitation will be Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at S.S. Peter & Paul Parish Hall, Virgil (right next to the church) from 4-8 p.m., with Rosary to be prayed at 8 p.m. A Mass will be held on Thursday November 9, at 11 a.m. at S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Virgil, IL, with interment to follow at S.S. Peter & Paul Cemetery. The family requests that no monetary donations be made to the family, but rather contributions be made directly to the charity of your choice. Flowers are welcome. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at S.S. Peter & Paul Parish Hall, Virgil (right next to the church) from 4-8 p.m., with Rosary to be prayed at 8 p.m. A Mass will be held on Thursday November 9, at 11 a.m. at S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Virgil, IL, with interment to follow at S.S. Peter & Paul Cemetery. The family requests that no monetary donations be made to the family, but rather contributions be made directly to the charity of your choice. Flowers are welcome. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.