Mabel Irene Phelps Farley

NAME Mabel Irene Phelps Farley, age 101, passed away, Sunday, February 4, 2007, at the DeKalb Area Retirement Center, DeKalb, where she has made her home the last several years. BORN: She was born in her home November 27, 1905, the daughter of William and Bertha (Dauberman) Lye in Kaneville, IL. EARLY YEARS:Mabel grew up in Kaneville and attended local schools. Following her graduation in 1923 she helped her grandmother, Mary Dauberman, in the house on the family farm. Mabel was united in marriage to Sherman Phelps in 1928. They began their new life together in the town of Kaneville where she would continue to reside for the next 69 years. A fire destroyed the Phelps family farmhouse in February of 1936 and the family moved into town with her mother, Bertha Lye. Sherman passed away unexpectedly one month later on March 29, 1936. MARRIAGE: A pall of grief fell over the family, but Mabel was strong not only in spirit, but in body that would hold together a family that was bonded by love, dedication and sacrifice. The family rebuilt their home and their life back on the Phelps farm and a fractured family was made whole again when she married Albert Farley on February 14, 1951. They began their new life in Albert’s home and dedicated the rest of her life to her children as well as to her community. Albert passed away in 1997 and Mabel lived for a time in Elburn at the Meadows Apartments before moving to the DeKalb Area Retirement Center in 1999. For the next six years Mabel shared her strong and bright spirit with all she knew, living independently until her last days. MEMBERSHIPS Mabel was a faithful lifetime member of the Kaneville United Methodist Church and sang in it’s choir for 42 years. LIFE NOTES Mabel played on the first girl’s basketball team at Kaneville High School and was memorialized in the team picture that now resides in the Kaneville Historical Society. She also loved to ride her favorite horse, Daisy, across the countryside and did so well into the 1950’s. Mabel’s mother was an accomplished pianist and passed on her gift to her children and formed the Lye Family Orchestra which played at the church and many social gatherings in the surrounding towns in the community. Following her marriage to Albert she gave many years of service to organizations across the county including ten years of volunteer service at the South Elgin State Hospital, and twenty years for the Red Cross. She was an active member of the Library League, taught Sunday school, and served as president for the Kane County Home Extension who bestowed upon her the honor of Homemaker of the Year in 1990. When she wasn’t serving others, she and Albert loved travel across the country including trips to Texas and several vacations in Hawaii. Time at home was never idle and even at rest her hands were busy quilting, making memories and a legacy that will be passed down for generations. SURVIVORS She now leaves three children:Patricia (Don) Frieders of Elkhorn, WI, Ted (Norrain) Phelps of Sugar Grove, IL,Leon Phelps of Kaneville, IL;Six grandchildren:Christine (Michael) Breen, Kathy (Kirk) Willis,Sandra (Tom) Lake,Kevin (Melinda) Frieders, Susan (David) Miller and Steven (Vickie) Phelps;Five great-grandchildren:Jamie Breen, Jacob and Zachary Miller, Thomas Lake and Haley Frieders;Many nieces and nephews and a lifetime of friends. PRECEDED She now joins her parents, husbands Sherman Phelps and Albert Farley, two sisters, Frances and Elma Lye, one brother Everett Lye, and one grandson, Douglas Phelps who preceded her in death. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in her name to benefit the Kaneville United Methodist church as well as her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Mabel Phelps Farley Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through www.conleycare.com.

Friends may call from 11a.m. to 1p.m., Thursday, February 8, 2007, at the Kaneville United Methodist Church, Kaneville, with a service to follow at 1:30 p.m. Rev. Jason Turner, pastor of the church will officiate.

Interment will follow at Kaneville Cemetery, Kaneville, Il.