Louanne Marie Fay
(1932 – 2024)
Louanne Marie Fay peacefully slipped into God’s arms in Ventura, California on Sunday, December 8th after a wonderful life and a storybook love.
The youngest of 3 sisters, Louanne was born in Los Angeles on September 30, 1932 to Carl and Marie Robb. She lived on the west side of Los Angeles her entire youth, graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in 1950, and went on to attend Mount Saint Mary’s College also in Los Angeles.
Raised by a single mother and twin sisters 10 years her senior, Louanne grew up in a family of ladies. Her beauty, elegance, and composure landed her roles in Hollywood as an extra in her school-age years, with notable appearances in Bing Crosby’s “The Bells of St. Mary’s” and Elizabeth Taylor’s “National Velvet”. Louanne also took on a variety of modeling roles after high school and later in her adult years, including with department stores Bullocks Wilshire and I Magnin. Louanne moved to Ventura in 1956 for a job with the Pierpont Inn and shortly thereafter became the Entertainment Director for the Ojai Valley Inn.
Louanne’s professional career was happily cut short when love got in the way. With that captivating smile and sparkling blue eyes, she met Kenneth Fay in July of 1958. From the day they met, to their wedding 5 months later, through 57 years of marital bliss, and after Ken’s passing, Ken and Louanne’s story is of true love. Together they lovingly raised their 5 children and never missed their opportunity for daily kisses and, as the kids grew older, long walks – always holding hands.
Louanne’s devotion to family, church, and community was unceasing. In addition to her incredible mothering, she was active in her children’s schools, took on many roles at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish, and served the Rotary Club of Ojai-West alongside Ken and for years after Ken’s passing. She generously supported many other local organizations with her time and treasure for decades and remained an active participant in the community until her brief illness.
At the core of Louanne was her Catholic faith. Her faith was her guiding light and the foundation for an amazingly positive outlook on life regardless of circumstance. She found joy in most every person she met and conversation she had. Her humor and her love in listening to, and telling, stories made all those interactions personal and memorable. She showed us how to live even as her life drew to a close. Some of her final words were “I am happy” … she loved this world completely and yet was at peace in looking toward her eternal life with God.
Louanne is survived by her 5 children and their spouses, Eileen (Mike) Laber-Munoz, Barry Fay, Sharon (Ken) Allen, Matthew (Sheri) Fay, and Andrew (Michelle) Fay; 17 grandchildren, Rob, Tim, Darlene, and Teresa Laber; Brendan, Andrew, Julia, and Sophia Fay; Emily, Chloe, Beau, and Ava Allen; Rachel, Ryan, and Nathan Fay; Thomas and Georgia Fay; and 5 great grandchildren, Genesis, Ray, Tristan, Camille, and Norah. Additionally, Louanne is survived by many nieces and nephews. Louanne was predeceased by her husband Kenneth; mother Marie; sisters Glorea Morgan and Cleora Galt; sisters-in-law Marge Fay and Connie Fay; and brothers-in-law Harold Fay, Jack Fay, Alfred Fay, Grey Morgan, and Robert Galt.
On behalf of Louanne, the family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to caregivers Danielle, Kathy, Mabel, Susan, and Susana for their loving care and friendship with Louanne and to all the incredible staff at Community Memorial Hospital in both Ojai and Ventura.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to an Ojai-based non-profit organization which you believe Louanne would appreciate. A funeral service will be held for Louanne at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai on Friday, December 20th at 11:00a.m., preceded by a rosary at 10:15a.m. Following the service, a reception will be held in the parish hall.