Submitted by: Dan Rich
April 3, 1924 - Sept. 22, 2008
South Bend Tribune 9/25/2008
SOUTH BEND - Lillian Toth Fahey, 84, passed away on
September 22nd in Southfield Village. Lil was born April 3, 1924,
in South Bend, to George and Elizabeth (Kovacs) Toth. Lillian was
valedictorian of the first class at John Adams High School. After
graduating from DePauw University where she was the first female
editor of the student newspaper and a member of the Alpha Phi
sorority, she worked at Robertson's Department Store writing copy
in the advertising department. This avocation continued
throughout her life; she was a freelance copywriter for New York
and Chicago specialty retail stores and won numerous national
jingle contests. On June 24, 1950, she married Frank J. Fahey at
the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. She was preceded in death in
1975 by Frank, a professor of sociology at the University of
Notre Dame. Surviving are three daughters and two son, Frank
Fahey (Susan Linnell) of Elmhurst, IL, Sheila Clancy
(Michael) of Sturgis, MI, Michael Fahey (Janet) of Mishawaka and
Meg Fahey and Tess Fahey of South Bend. She is survived by her
sister, Irene Rogenski. Mrs. Fahey was the mother of the
late Christopher. Lil was grandmother to 10 grandchildren, James Seidler
(Lori) of Chicago, IL, Nathan and Sara Seidler of South Bend,
Christopher, Patrick and Sean Clancy of Sturgis, MI, Dylan and
Gavin Fahey of Elmhurst, IL, Scott and Lauren Fahey of Mishawaka.
Lil was an active member of the Ladies of Notre Dame, serving as
an officer.
She was on the board of directors of YMCA
Camp Eberhart when the Klinger Hall was designed and built. In
1967 she organized the Sunday Mass at the camp - a summer
tradition continuing to this day. She was the founder and
director of the first Liturgical Fair at Little Flower Parish in
South Bend. One of the joys of her life was the "Bridge
Club," which met for more than 50 years. The members of the
club were former residents of Vetville, converted prisoner-of-war
barracks that served as Notre Dame married student housing after
WWII. Lil was an adventurous and questing spirit, taking her
family throughout the entire U.S. and traveling throughout Asia
and Europe.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept.
29, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus.
Interment will be at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be
from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the HICKEY Funeral Home, 17131
Cleveland Road, South Bend. Memorial contributions may be made to
Camp Eberhart, 10481 Camp Eberhart Road, Three Rivers, MI 49093.