Hildegard F. (Kandera) Fay

Hildegard F. Fay, age 88, died Thursday, June 25, 2020 due to COVID-19 virus.  She was born July 14, 1931 in Salzburg, Austria to Franziska (nee Kronhuber) Kandera and Leopold Kandera. Hildegard moved to London upon graduation from high school and became a nanny for a doctor's family.  She later met and married Duane Fay, Sr., an American serviceman, and moved to the United States. They settled in Wisconsin upon his retirement from the Army in 1972. While she held many different jobs throughout her life, she found her calling later in life when she became a CNA. She worked at the Wisconsin Veterans Home until she retired in the mid 1990s. She loved to travel, go on cruises, knit and crochet. As a young mother she served as a Girl Scout leader and loved to bowl, winning many trophies.

She is survived by her children: Linda (Paul) Hagen, Waupaca; Jerry Fay, Iola; and Duane (Mary) Fay, Jr., Janesville; 6 grandchildren: Joshua (Stephanie) Fay, Janesville; Julia Fay (and fiancé Wyatt Beesler), Janesville; Ariel Fay, Iola (soon to be Czech Republic); Robert Fay, Stevens Point; Emilie Hagen, Shizuoka, Japan; and Michael Hagen, Waupaca (soon to be Ames, Iowa); and step-grandchildren: Iris and Becky. Hildegard is also survived by 3 great grandchildren: Lily, Liam, and Lacey Fay, Janesville; numerous step great-grandchildren, as well as a beloved brother, Alfred Kandera from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and step-daughter, Sherry.

A memorial service will be held at Waupaca Christian Church on Saturday July 11, 2020 and streamed live on Facebook. Visitation will be from 10am to 11am with the memorial starting at 11am. To attend in person, masks will be required, as well as social distancing. A light meal will be served following the service.

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