Linda L. Faber

Linda L. Faber, age 70, of Limestone, passed away Saturday, July 9, 2016 at Presence St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, to join her Lord and Savior. She was born July 20, 1945, the daughter of Leo and Laura McHie Lewis of Peotone, where she grew up on the family farm. On that farm, Linda learned her love of canning, cooking, and caring for the animals; especially Holstein cows and dogs. Linda graduated from Peotone High School in 1963, Kankakee Community College, and Governors State University, eventually leading to a master’s degree in Speech Communication. She married Richard Faber September 19, 1978 in Chicago. Together, they raised four children, Desiree (Tom) McCoy of Kankakee, Jodie (Darrin) Shields of Momence, Sheree Birkenmeyer of Wildwood, MO, and Douglas (Anne) Faber of Apex, NC. She and Richard lived in Kankakee during their entire married life and were very active at St. Mary’s Church and then at St. Patrick’s Church. Linda held many different jobs during her life including waitressing at the Kankakee Country Club, working at Jewel in the bake shop, and various positions at the Kankakee Co-Op and Kankakee School District 111. She continued her career at Shapiro Center as a speech and hearing specialist for 18 years; finally retiring due to illness. Linda had numerous interests and hobbies. When her children were younger, she served as a girl scout leader and a 4-H leader. She also led the children’s choir at St. Mary’s Church. She was an avid Bishop McNamara Football fan and worked concessions and Bingo. She was known for her love traveling and has been to all 50 states, 4 continents, and 25 countries. She published 2 travel articles in The Daily Journal. Linda traveled with her husband and sometimes with girlfriends. Linda’s other hobbies enjoyed hosting parties, cooking, painting, and attending musicals, country concerts, and visiting fairs. Linda belonged to the “Red Hat Chatter Hatters” red hat club, Kankakee Kultivators, St. Patrick’s Church, and was a long time Hospice Volunteer. She previously served on the Kankakee County Board and the Kankakee County Board of Health. In addition to her children, surviving are her husband, Richard Faber of Limestone; her grandchildren, Hannah and Canton Faber, and Brandon, Sarah, Caitlin, and Karoline Birkenmeyer. She also leaves behind one brother, Leo (Karen) Lewis of Watseka and one sister, Lorie Lewis of London, England; two uncles, Richard (Aline) McHie of Kankakee and Howard Lewis; and one aunt, Adeline Lewis Cann of Peotone. Also surviving are many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and her beloved dachshund, “Sissy.” Preceding her in death are her parents and grandparents. Visitation will be held 4:00 – 8:00 on Monday, July 11, 2016 at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Rev. John Peeters will celebrate the mass. Interment will follow at Limestone Cemetery, Limestone Twp. Memorials may be made to the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary or for masses at St. Patrick Church.

Linda L. Faber

July 20, 1945 - July 9, 2016