Essie "Fay" Lies

Essie "Fay" (Howell) Lies July 1, 1924 - Dec. 9, 2014 SOUTH BEND - Fay Lies, 90, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, surrounded by family. She was born July 1, 1924, in Iowa Park (Burkburnett), Texas, to Samuel P. and Thelma B. (Collier) Howell. She married Francis A. Lies on October 5, 1945, in the Catholic chapel on Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX, on his return from WW II, and resided in South Bend since. Mrs. Lies was preceded in death by her loving husband of 69 years, Francis; a daughter, Joy Marie; her parents, Sam and Thelma Howell; sister, S. Joy Allen; and brother, Kale D. Howell; and in-laws, Isabel and George Cortier, Marilyn Gostola, Ralph and Marge Lies, Paul "Bud" Lies, and Anthony Lies. She is survived by daughters, Kathleen (David) Wilkening of Yardley, PA, and Marianne (John) Wantuch of South Bend; sons, James (Mary Beth) of Mishawaka, Richard (Barbara) of Riverside, CA, and Donald (Barb) Lies of South Bend; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; in-laws, Esta Mae Lies, Charles (Char) Lies, Phyllis (Ned) Kinzie and Al Gostola; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Besides being a great mom to five children, Fay co-founded the South Bend Area Genealogical Society, was the owner/ operator of the Prairie Avenue Tastee Freez from the mid-60s to early-70s, was a 40-year Daughter of the American Revolution Schuyler Colfax Chapter, coached volleyball and was a Camp Fire Girl leader at Holy Family School, volunteered at the St. Joseph County Public Library and for St. Vincent De Paul Society, and was a "soccer mom" before it became popular. As a faithful Catholic, she had a strong devotion to the Rosary and was a member of Holy Family's Altar & Rosary Society. She had a good sense of humor and many friends across her interests in ceramics, golf, cooking, hosting Christmas for the family, and playing any kind of cards--but Poker. She also enjoyed travel and camping with France and the children. Fay graduated from Geraldine High School and Draughn Business College in Wichita Falls, Texas, with additional education from Purdue. Visitation will be from 2:00 4:00 p.m. & 5:30 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2014, at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN, where a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 12, 2014, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 56405 Mayflower Road, South Bend, IN, with Rev. Glenn J. Kohrman officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Parish, 56405 Mayflower Road, South Bend, IN 46619. To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.