Fay Gugerty

Fay ( Faivre) Gugerty, 89, died on April 3 in Franklin Grove Nursing Center. Fay Sondgeroth was born on May 14, 1920 in Dixon, IL to Michael and Teresa Sondgeroth and raised in Peterstown, IL . She attended Illinois Normal Teachers College in DeKalb and began her teaching career in a one-room school, Angier School in Lee County. Fay married Raymond Faivre in 1942 and they settled in Maytown where they raised their family and farmed until his death in 1966. For many years, she taught fifth and sixth grades at Maytown and Eldena Schools, and also served as principal in both schools. She retired in 1974 when she married Bill Gugerty . Bill died in 1999. Fay moved to Heritage Assisted Living in Dixon and then to Franklin Grove Nursing Center. Fay was an active Catholic all her life, a member of St. Patrick's Church in Maytown, where she served in many capacities, especially the Altar and Rosary Society and the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. For 22 years she was a member of the board of Lee County Association for the Handicapped (later ARC), the parent organization of Kreider Services in Dixon, and served three terms as president of the board during Kreider's formative years. She is survived by six children, Kay (John) Nelson of Huntley, IL; Ann (Dan) Ruggaber of Valparaiso, IN; Fay Ellen (Joe) Obergfell of Lexington, IN; Raymond "Mike" Faivre of Dixon, IL; Pat (Tom) Ruggaber of Wheaton, IL; and Jim (Nancy) Faivre of Rock Falls, IL. Also surviving are eighteen grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents, two brothers, Donald and Francis Sondgeroth and one great-grandchild, Abbigaile Marie Faivre. The family will receive friends from 4 - 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 7 at Jones Funeral Home in Dixon and at St. Patrick's Church in Maytown on Thursday, April 8 at 9:30 a.m. The Christian Wake Service will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's at 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning with the Rev Carl Beekman pastor officiating. Burial will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetary, Maytown. Memorials in her honor may be made to Kreider Services (500 Anchor Rd, Dixon IL 61021) or to Maryknoll Lay Missioners (P.O. Box 307, Maryknoll, NY 10545).

Fay Gugerty

May 14, 1920 - April 3, 2010