Obituaries
Obituary for Virginia Mary Fahel
Virginia Mary Fahel was born to earthly life on October 29, 1930 and passed peacefully to eternal life on June 21, 2022.
Known to friends as "Ginny", to her brothers as "Zion" and to her loving nieces and nephews as "Aunt Deedee", Virginia was born in Chicago and moved to Peoria as a young girl where she lived nearly all her 91+ years. Her life was marked by simplicity, compassion, humor, humility and a deep faith.
Deedee graduated from the Academy of Our Lady in 1949 and subsequently worked in various roles at Crowley Brothers Plumbing, Peoria Water Company and Caterpillar. But her legacy is less about her work and more about her humanity. She was a loving friend to her card-party gal-pals Fran, Marcie and Lu who will surely miss seeing her every Tuesday. Deedee was a lifelong friend- a beloved sister in fact - to dear Emily LaHood; a better friend she could not have had. DeeDee was a proud godmother to the children of Vicky Stein-Smith - her cherished friend, travel buddy and one-time housemate. Her many years of serving the homeless and needy at Renaissance Stand illustrated how Deedee's goodness reached beyond family and friends - a compassionate and humble soul to all she met.
Deedee was the last survivor of her immediate family. She was preceded in death by her parents Abraham and Lillian (Ryia) Fahel and her four brothers Joseph (Camille) Fahel, Alex Fahel, John Fahel and Louie (Joyce) Fahel. Her sister-in-law, Nova Fahel, survives her.
Her five nephews and four nieces, for whom she was a second mother, also survive her. Diane Glubb of Orlando FL, Mary (Tadeusz) Pietreniak of Peoria, Michael (Barbara) Fahel of Peoria, Richard (Jeffrey Haug) Fahel of St Paul MN, James (Pam) Fahel of Knoxville TN, Anne (Robert)Harrison of San Diego, CA, David Fahel of Peoria, Matthew (Margaret) Fahel of Peoria and Lylah Fahel of Gilmer TX - will forever miss their dear Aunt Deedee.
DeeDee gave of herself, and others gave to her. For several years, she was grateful for the help and companionship of Chris - her handyman, driver and trusted neighbor. In her final year, Deedee was lovingly cared for by Gale, Jessica, Tonya, Lori and Faith. Truly angels on the earth! We were blest to have known them and have them woven into our family. They were with Deedee in her very final hours along with niece, Mary and great-niece, Camilla. A special thanks to Mary and Camilla who tirelessly provided Deedee with practical aid, emotional support and spiritual sustenance.
In our grief, we recall the words of the poet Maya Angelou: "A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again. "
Godspeed, dear Aunt Deedee!
A celebration of life luncheon will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Church Hall of Imago Dei located at 2221 N. Gale Ave, Peoria. All are welcome.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
Her funeral mass was at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2022 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Peoria. Father William Miller will officiate. Burial followed in St. Joseph Cemetery in West Peoria.
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Known to friends as "Ginny", to her brothers as "Zion" and to her loving nieces and nephews as "Aunt Deedee", Virginia was born in Chicago and moved to Peoria as a young girl where she lived nearly all her 91+ years. Her life was marked by simplicity, compassion, humor, humility and a deep faith.
Deedee graduated from the Academy of Our Lady in 1949 and subsequently worked in various roles at Crowley Brothers Plumbing, Peoria Water Company and Caterpillar. But her legacy is less about her work and more about her humanity. She was a loving friend to her card-party gal-pals Fran, Marcie and Lu who will surely miss seeing her every Tuesday. Deedee was a lifelong friend- a beloved sister in fact - to dear Emily LaHood; a better friend she could not have had. DeeDee was a proud godmother to the children of Vicky Stein-Smith - her cherished friend, travel buddy and one-time housemate. Her many years of serving the homeless and needy at Renaissance Stand illustrated how Deedee's goodness reached beyond family and friends - a compassionate and humble soul to all she met.
Deedee was the last survivor of her immediate family. She was preceded in death by her parents Abraham and Lillian (Ryia) Fahel and her four brothers Joseph (Camille) Fahel, Alex Fahel, John Fahel and Louie (Joyce) Fahel. Her sister-in-law, Nova Fahel, survives her.
Her five nephews and four nieces, for whom she was a second mother, also survive her. Diane Glubb of Orlando FL, Mary (Tadeusz) Pietreniak of Peoria, Michael (Barbara) Fahel of Peoria, Richard (Jeffrey Haug) Fahel of St Paul MN, James (Pam) Fahel of Knoxville TN, Anne (Robert)Harrison of San Diego, CA, David Fahel of Peoria, Matthew (Margaret) Fahel of Peoria and Lylah Fahel of Gilmer TX - will forever miss their dear Aunt Deedee.
DeeDee gave of herself, and others gave to her. For several years, she was grateful for the help and companionship of Chris - her handyman, driver and trusted neighbor. In her final year, Deedee was lovingly cared for by Gale, Jessica, Tonya, Lori and Faith. Truly angels on the earth! We were blest to have known them and have them woven into our family. They were with Deedee in her very final hours along with niece, Mary and great-niece, Camilla. A special thanks to Mary and Camilla who tirelessly provided Deedee with practical aid, emotional support and spiritual sustenance.
In our grief, we recall the words of the poet Maya Angelou: "A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again. "
Godspeed, dear Aunt Deedee!
A celebration of life luncheon will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Church Hall of Imago Dei located at 2221 N. Gale Ave, Peoria. All are welcome.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
Her funeral mass was at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2022 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Peoria. Father William Miller will officiate. Burial followed in St. Joseph Cemetery in West Peoria.
Previous Events
Celebration of Life
Saturday
24
Sep
12:00 PM
Imago Dei Church
2221 N Gale Ave
Peoria, IL 61604
Cemetery Details
Location
St. Joseph Cemetery
2105 W. Heading Ave.
West Peoria, IL 61604
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