Jeanne Farkas

Jeanne Farkas was a beautiful and loving mother and grandmother. She had an unconditional love for her family, who meant everything to her. Her home was always a haven of love and support.

Jeanne’s mother, Giovanna Agate, immigrated to Detroit from Sicily in her thirties. She was soon offered two options in marriage: a rich man, who was rumored to own a piano, or a poor man who was a hard worker. She chose the hard worker and married Dominic Biondo. His diligent work ethic influenced Jeanne and was passed down through the generations.

Giovanna and Dominic Biondo lived in an Italian neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. Already the proud parents of a son, Joseph, they celebrated the birth of their daughter, Jennie on July 1, 1923. They were later joined in the family home by their sister, Paulina, who sadly died at 16 months.

As a first generation American, Jennie learned English as a second language upon entering grade school. She legally changed her name to “Jeanne” as a teenager. Her childhood was marked by the Depression, granting her a deep appreciation for all of life’s gifts. Jeanne maintained a resourcefulness worthy of imitation. Despite the trials of the day, she never lost her positive outlook or ability to dream.

Growing up, one of her weaker subjects in school was spelling. But with encouragement from a nun and her strong determination, Jeanne won the sixth grade spelling bee and received a dictionary as her prize. As a teenager, Jeanne loved to go to Belle Isle, an island park on the Detroit River, with her girlfriends, where they went boating, horseback riding and walked the promenade. She also enjoyed sketching pictures of her favorite stars, copied from photographs in movie magazines. With her natural beauty and poise, she won a celebrity look-a-like contest, emulating the 1940s movie star, Hedy Lamarr.

During World War II, Jeanne met a handsome Hungarian serviceman named Louis Farkas who was home on leave. After returning to the European front of the war, they exchanged letters. Always a photogenic gal, Jeanne sent him glamorous of photos of herself. In 1945 they had a traditional Italian wedding in St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Detroit. In 1953 they relocated to Holland, Michigan, and raised five children: Maria, Karen, Warren, Annette and Renee. Jeanne and Louis parted ways in 1961. After being a successful homemaker for 25 years, Jeanne joined the workforce with Simicon. She later retired from Parke-Davis.

The cornerstone of Jeanne’s life was family. Some of her great adventures included traveling for 3 weeks through Italy and Sicily with her daughter Annette and celebrating her 70th birthday with her daughter Maria on a Caribbean cruise. She had regular family gatherings where she made traditional Hungarian and Italian food, reflecting the families’ blended heritage. Her unconditional love and selflessness reverberates through the hearts of her children to this day.

A devoted Catholic and parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Church for 54 years, Jeanne lived her faith by practicing compassion and forgiveness. She was kind and generous with her time, never thinking twice about going out of her way to help others. Jeanne would often visit elderly friends, drive them to church or simply stop by for a visit. Always active, Jeanne stayed in shape, walking anywhere from 3 to 6 miles a day into her 80s. Jeanne was also gifted with a love and talent for singing and enjoyed sharing traditional Italian folk songs with her family.

On December 7, 2007, Jeanne Rose Farkas, age 84, of Holland, MI, passed away peacefully, lovingly embraced by her family at Resthaven’s Good Shepherd Home. She was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph J. Biondo. Jeanne is survived by her children: Maria and Tom Slager of Edwardsburg, MI, Karen Lee of Holland, MI, Warren and Gracie Farkas of South Bend, IN, Annette and Don Vanden Heuvel of Holland, MI, and Renee and Bill Newman of Strongsville, OH; 22 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She was a generous and much-loved mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all and remembered for her unconditional love, welcoming spirit and constant support.

The family will receive friends and relatives on Monday, December 10, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Mulder Chapel of Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, 188 W. 32nd Street, Holland, followed with a rosary at 7 p.m. A mass will be held in her honor at St. Francis de Sales Church at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11. Memorial contributions may be made to Resthaven Care Center’s Good Shepherd Activity Department or St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. Please visit Jeanne’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory with her family or sign her online guest book.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the caring and attentive staff at Good Shepherd for the loving care Jeanne received.