Mary Geraldine "Gerry" (Roche) Fahey

Mary Geraldine “Gerry” Fahey, 97 of Hinsdale and Westmont, IL and formerly of Danville, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her daughters, on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at Cordia Senior Living. A Catholic mass will be held at 11:00 am on March 23 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 1303 N. Walnut St. in Danville with Father Bo officiating. Family will receive friends for one hour prior at the church. Following services, Gerry will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Park beside her husband Lester (Les).

   Gerry was welcomed into this world on December 15, 1921 by William and Georgie Pauline (Gemberling) Roche. She was an only child who grew up in Fort Wayne and South Bend, Indiana. She graduated from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana as part of the class of 1944, with a degree in Social Work. Gerry met her Canadian born husband Les while he was attending Notre Dame. They married after she graduated, traveling to Reno, Nevada where Les was stationed, in October of 1944. They shared over fifty-four years together before his passing in 1998.

  Gerry took pride in her memberships and work with P.E.O. and DAR, both the Danville and Hinsdale chapters, as well as the St. Elizabeth’s Auxiliary and the Danville Garden Club. She co-chaired many fundraisers in her volunteer work with the Auxiliary throughout the years that brought entertainers such as Bob Hope, Red Skelton and Tony Bennett to the Danville area. Gerry was also a Cub Scout leader when her boys were young.

   Gerry was devoted to raising her children, attending their events and activities, and being a homemaker for her family. She was an incredible cook and loved making desserts with fresh fruits bought in bushels at the Liberty Market on North Vermilion. She assisted Les  in the launch of his successful  business, LD Fahey Real Estate, and at the age of 55 she began her own career as a foster care social worker with the Diocese of Peoria, Catholic Social Services.. This career would last for over twenty years until her retirement at 75 years of age.

   Gerry leaves behind a loving family of two daughters: Gail Daniels Fahey and Katha B (Joe) Plack; two sons: Kevin Christopher (Anita) Fahey and Michael Ryan (Karen) Fahey; six grandchildren; and three great grandchildren (with one on the way in early April). She will be forever remembered. Mom lived a spiritual life. Her compassion and selflessness were evident in all that she did. Unfailingly devoted to her children, no matter their choices, and always there to support and assist regardless of the outcomes. Her love was unconditional. Her joy in our being was uncontained. We all felt no matter where we were and what we were doing that  her love was always with us. Even now, we feel surrounded by the mother each of us adores.

      In her memory the family requests that donations be made to American Red Cross (any chapter) where she worked during WWII after her graduation, St. Mary’s College Development Fund, Notre Dame, Indiana, or Catholic Social Services, Diocese of Peoria. Messages and memories may be left on our website at www.KrugerCoanPape.com, or on the Kruger-Coan-Pape Funeral Home Facebook page.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Geraldine "Gerry" (Roche) Fahey, please visit our floral store.