Mona Lavonne Graves Fearheiley, 89, of Mount Carmel, Illinois passed away on December 13th, 2017 at RiverOaks Health Center in Princeton, Indiana.
Mona was born June 1, 1928, in Princeton, Indiana to Dr. Orville M. Graves, Sr. and Martha Pauline (Polly) Morton Graves. On June 10, 1948. Mona married Robert C. (Bob) Fearheiley, who preceded her in death in February, 2008.
Mona attended Lowell Elementary School and graduated from Princeton High School in 1946. In high school, she was involved in many activities including student council officer and class president both her junior and senior years. All four years Mona was a member of the marching band where she played the oboe and was a majorette. She won many state baton twirling tournaments and had the distinction of being the first female drum major for the Princeton High School Marching Band. She continued her education at DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
Mona was an active member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. She served as President of the Saint Mary’s School Board in 1962 and helped to organize, develop, and implement the School's hot lunch program, the first of its kind at Saint Mary. In addition, Mona served on the Parish Council during a major Church renovation in 1977-78. She served as a coach for the newly organized Mount Carmel Girls’ Softball League which started in the 1960s. Mona was an avid golfer and member of the Mount Carmel Women’s Golf Association. She organized a Thursday Night Bridge Club with friends, who are still playing together 65 years later. For a number of years, Mona could be heard announcing the MCHS football homecoming queen court and reading for the blind through the Wabash Valley Junior College, Radio Information Service. Her legacy is that of a loving wife, caring mother, and someone who filled her home with good humor, laughter, and a place of happiness.
Surviving Mona are three daughters, Molly Fearheiley (Barbara Caciolo), Saint Louis, Missouri, Nancy Fearheiley, Arlington, Virginia, and Amy Lindsay (Dustin), Evansville, Indiana; two sons, Kevin Fearheiley, Mount Carmel, and John Fearheiley (Julie), Mount Carmel, Illinois; eight grandchildren: Grant, Emily, Hannah, Abbey, Jenna, Peyton. Taylor Fearheiley and Ellie Marshall, two sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. Mona was blessed with wonderful friends in addition to exceptional caregivers. Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers Dr. Orville M. Graves Jr., William Graves Sr. and two sisters, Daisy Bright Graves Peters and Charlotte Graves.
Funeral services will held at 10: 00am on December 23rd, 2017 at Saint Mary’s Church in Mount Carmel. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday December 22nd, 2017 at Short Funeral Home in Mount Carmel Illinois. A rosary will be said at 7:30 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Mary’s School or the USAMV Mount Carmel Honor Guard.
Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com
Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Mona’s family.
