Cecilia L. Fischbach

Cecilia L. Abair Fischbach, age 108, of West Toledo, died Thursday, March 23,2006, at West Toledo Health Care. She was born January 19, 1898, in Toledo to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph (Louise Meyer) Abair. She is believed to be the oldest person in the area and one of the oldest in the United States. She married Joseph Fischbach in 1923 and he preceded her in death in 1980. She gave piano lessons beginning in 1915 and continued until she was 93 years old and early on would walk from house to house in Toledo to give the lessons never turning anyone away for lack of funds. With her patience and skill she taught the handicapped and blind to play the piano as well. She was a very religious woman, praying the Rosary many times each day and generously supported several priests and nuns education and mission work. She was a 1916 graduate of St. Ursula Academy and was their oldest surviving graduate and was a founding member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. She was a member of the Toledo Piano Teacher's Association and the Ohio Music Teachers Association.
Survived by daughters, Rita C. Hayes, Regina M. (Clarence) Janowiecki and Margaret Mossing, all of Toledo; 13 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, in 1980 and son-in-law, Richard Mossing.
Friends will be received at Blanchard-Strabler Funeral Home, (1163 W. Sylvania at Lockwood, 419-269-1111) on Monday from 2-8 p.m., where the Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Prayers will be offered on Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home and proceed to St. Pius X Catholic Church for the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., Fr. James Cryan, OSFS Celebrant. Burial, Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Cecilia's name may be directed to the Cecilia Abair Fischbach Scholarship Fund at St. Ursula Academy.