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Susan Jean (Gilleland) Faber was born on January 10, 1947 and passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at home after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. She is Survived by: Her beloved husband of 59 years: Merlyn Faber; sister: Janette Gilleland; daughters: Connie (Andy) Richey of Nairobi, Kenya and Becky (Casey) Turnquist of Merrillville, Indiana, Grandchildren: Katie (Joe) Walker; Stephen (Jennie) Richey; Jonathan (Amy) Richey; Timothy Faber, Jr.; Joshua (Cortney) Faber; Nicole Faber; Jordan Faber; Christa Faber; Lily Faber; Carissa Faber; Tiffany (Chris) Wohllaib and Raymond Turnquist. Great grandchildren: Kara Turnquist, Jonathan Richey; Ellie Belle Walker; Rohan Richey; Jude Richey; Charlie Sue Walker; Anthony Richey. Susan was preceded in death by: her parents, Raymond Gilleland and Madeline (Dietrich) Gilleland; siblings, Carol Gilleland and Michael Gilleland; her son, Timothy Faber, Sr. and great-grandson, Andre’ Richey. Susan was born January 10, 1947 in Wauseon, Ohio. She was the third child of Raymond and Madeline Gilleland. Susan’s mom taught her to sew at a young age on a treadle sewing machine. She spent approximately the next 70 years doing just that. She became a great seamstress, quilter, costumer, problem solver, teacher, crafter, gardener and would encourage others to live a healthy lifestyle. She taught her daughters and eventually some of her grandchildren to sew. Susan and Merlyn met through a mutual friend while Merlyn was going to college in Chicago and Susan was finishing high school. Susan graduated from Adrian High School in the spring of 1964 and she and Merlyn married in November of 1964. Once they were married she moved to the Chicago area and began attending First Baptist Church of Hammond where she was a member until she passed away. Susan was very involved in the church, including church programs and worked on a lot of sewing project for them over many years. At one point Susan worked with the pastor to start a sewing room at the church so she could have help with all of the projects. Susan accepted Jesus as her Savior on February 6, 1966 after C. W. Fisk shared the Gospel with her. She also sang in the church choir for 33 years and could sing the beautiful high notes. Susan began working in the Beginner I Sunday School department in 1966 and continued until her illness would no longer allow it. She loved working with the 4-year olds, teaching them songs, playing piano and watching the children grow up and eventually bring their own children to the Sunday School department. She even wrote at least one song that she then taught to the children and had an integral part of teaching each class the books of the Bible song. Susan loved to sing the itsy bitsy spider with her grandchildren while acting it out and even added a new, great big giant spider, verse. Susan had a heart for the ladies who went through the Better Roads Recovery Ministry of First Baptist Church and had a standing appointment for every Thursday to work with the girls teaching them to sew, craft, garden and eat healthy. She would love on the ladies every time she saw them. Susan always had a smile and loved people. Once she became sick and couldn’t go to church she would be energized whenever a friend would visit. Proverbs 18:24 - “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” She lived this verse as well as being a Proverbs 31 woman. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, family is requesting donations to be made to the Ladies Better Roads Recovery Home of First Baptist Church. Friends and relatives are welcome to visit with family on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church Jack Hyles Memorial Auditorium 523 Sibley St. Hammond, IN 46320. Interment to follow at Memory Lane Memorial Park.

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Susan Faber

January 10, 1947 - April 20, 2024