COUNTRYSIDE - Marilyn Faber, 86, peacefully passed away on Feb. 1, 2021 surrounded by her beloved husband of 63 years, Dr. LeRoy Penfield Faber, and her cherished children.

Visitation was held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Hallowell & James Funeral Home in Countryside. Funeral service was private.

Marilyn was born in 1934 in Herrin. She married Penfield Faber of Mendota in 1957.

Survivors include her husband; four children, Kimberly (Mike) Olsen, Blair (Lisa) Faber, Whitney (Mike) Kessler and Allison (Mike) Walsh; and 10 grandchildren.

Marilyn graduated from Herrin High School and then attended Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, she was inducted into the Pi Beta Phi sorority where she and her close friends thoroughly enjoyed both the academic and social life. She was also a proud member of the renowned Waa-Mu Show, a Northwestern University musical, written, performed and presented each year by Northwestern students. During her senior year at Northwestern, she met the love of her life, Penfield Faber, who was a senior medical student at Northwestern. They graduated together in 1956 on the Northwestern football field and were married one year later.

Marilyn’s generous spirit and enormous impression extended into her community. She always loved history, which prompted her involvement in and dedication to the La Grange Area Historical Society where she began volunteering over 35 years ago. She worked tirelessly recording donations and assisting in the creation of many exhibits that the area public always appreciated and enjoyed. Her creativity and passion for history helped to create beautiful exhibits for the Society. Most importantly, she cherished the very deep and close friendships she developed while volunteering there. The volunteers became a tight knit group and she loved creating exhibits, brainstorming ideas and the weekly Wednesday lunches with her dear group of friends. She also served as a longtime board member of the Society.

Penfield’s career as a surgeon provided many opportunities to travel to numerous world medical conferences and meetings. Marilyn very much enjoyed traveling around the world to these events with him and developed close and strong friendships with the spouses of his colleagues. Reunions of these groups were always enjoyed, and their friendships persist to this day.

The world lost a treasured wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She made a tremendous impact on all their lives. She was the pure definition of grace and resilience, forever leaving an example of love and kindness. Her kindness, generous spirit and wit radiated joy and warmth for everyone in her presence. Marilyn was an elegant lady, a devoted wife and a caring and loving mother and grandmother. Her children and husband were the most important things in her life, and they all felt her love and devotion daily. She will always be remembered as making everyone in her presence feel welcomed and loved. She will be dearly missed and forever remembered.

In celebration of Marilyn’s generous spirit and in lieu of flowers, her family encourages those who wish to honor her life make a donation to the La Grange Area Historical Society, 444 South La Grange Road, La Grange, IL 60525. Please list “In memory of Marilyn Faber” on the memo line.