Frances Fahey

Frances E. Fahey, 86, of Waukon died Saturday, October 17, 2020 at her home surrounded by family. Private funeral services will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. For those attending the service, social distancing and wearing of masks is mandatory due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The service will be live streamed on Martin-Grau Funeral Home’s Facebook page Wednesday, October 21 at 10:30 a.m. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church or Veterans Memorial Hospital, both in Waukon.

Frances Esther Fahey was born March 18, 1934 to Frank and Christine (Tovey) Teeling at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in 1952. Fran then attended St. Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse, WI, graduating in 1955.

She married Keith Fahey in 1956. They lived for a short time in Colorado Springs before Keith was deployed to Germany, where they lived for a year while he served in the United States Army. In 1958, they returned home to Allamakee County, where they eventually purchased their own farm on West Ridge and raised eight children.

Over the years, Fran had multiple careers such as a nurse at Veterans Memorial Hospital, full-time farm wife and mother, staff coordinator at Good Samaritan Center, and later even a certified semi driver for CR England.

Faith and community were a huge part of Fran’s life and ministry to others was one of Fran’s natural gifts. In 1976, she started her first women’s bible study for the neighborhood women of West Ridge. She went on to attend and lead many bible studies and was a part of the CEW community right up until her recent passing, making lifelong friendships because of it.

She was a 4-H leader and an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon teaching CCD, lectoring and serving in leadership roles with ACCW for over 14 years, including Dubuque Archdiocesan ACCW Director At-Large and President. In her “retired” years, she was acknowledged for her loyal visits to Prairie du Chien Correctional Facility and the difference she made in the lives of those serving there.

Family and friends were abundant in her life as Fran loved to listen, laugh and pray for any and all she encountered. She loved to entertain and invite others into her home and always made room at the table for everyone. She loved to spoil her family with her handmade gifts and enjoyed her quiet time quilting, painting, reading, and especially visiting with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Fran is survived by her children: Karen (Brian) Burke of Dorchester, Laure (David) Weymiller of New Albin, Julie (Scott) Lubahn of Winona, MN, Janice (Murray) Rattray of Round Rock, TX, Marcia (Don) Sadler of Cedar Rapids, Greg Fahey of Waukon, Ron Fahey of Chicago, IL and Renee (Ronn) Thies of Onalaska, WI. She has 29 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters: Sarah (Dan) Welsh of Waukon, Sheila (Bill) Link of Chicago, IL and Mary (Tom) Mellick of Waukon; and her sisters-in-law: Evelyn (Bill) Chapman of Tomah, WI and Mary (Kenneth) Fahey of Waukon. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Keith; a son, David William; and a brother, Edward Teeling.

Casketbearers are her grandsons: Brad Burke, Ross, Frank and Marcus Weymiller, Brent, Kyle and Alex Lubahn, Kevin and Tim Sadler, Mason and Christian Fahey, Oliver Vera, David Fahey and Mitchell Thies. Honorary casketbearers are Barb Winters-Kelly, Kathy Fossum, Betty Larsen, Lindy Howes, Ann Byrnes and Denise Hager.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.