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Faye M. Amo, age 57, of 425 West Ridge Street, Marquette, entered eternal life Wednesday evening, July 13, 2011, at her home in the loving care of her family and the caregivers of Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice.

Born March 23, 1954 in Lima, Ohio, a daughter of Stephen J. and Ethel (Salidas) Catel, Faye was raised in Ishpeming and graduated from the Ishpeming High School as salutatorian of her class. From her days in grade school, Faye held the desire to become a teacher. She enrolled at Northern Michigan University, where she received her baccalaureate degree summa cum laude (with highest honor) with a double major in French and English. She continued at Northern, obtaining a double masters degree in English and French in 1977 and later studied at the University of the Sorbonne in Paris where she earned highest honors in French. Faye's lifelong dream of becoming a teacher began with her first teaching assignment at the Ishpeming High School in 1977. In 1979, she started teaching French at the Marquette Senior High School, a career that would span 31 years. Teaching French was her passion in life and she loved all her students and they loved her. Affectionately known as Madame Amo, she was the consummate professional teacher, one who truly cared about her students and was dedicated to their education and well-being. It was not enough that the students learned the French language, she felt they needed to experience what "French" meant. Heading the French Club at Marquette Senior High School, Faye planned numerous trips for club members to big city museums to view French art exhibits, eat at French eateries, and learn about French culture. Over the years, several trips were taken to Chicago and to France in her mission to educate. These memorable events were always anticipated by Faye and greeted with enthusiasm by her students. For a number of years, she served as class advisor, particularly enjoying building and decorating floats for homecoming and decorating the gym for junior prom activities. Throughout her life, Faye maintained an untiring interest in the students at MSHS, often asking parents about their children, even though the children may never have been her students and she kept in regular contact with students who were now living adult lives, with families of their own. In addition to her affiliations at MSHS as foreign language department head for several years, class advisor for the MSHS graduating class of 2008, and serving on numerous parent-teacher committees, Faye was also a member of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption and the Ladies Philoptochos Society, and active in civic committees such as the American Association of University Women and the Marquette Beautification Committee. In her leisure, Faye loved walking her dog, Mario, for the 13 years of his life, bicycling, running even participating in marathons in Detroit and France, and riding in her boat on beautiful Lake Superior.

Faye is survived by her husband, John; her cherished son, Bret; two sisters, Stephanie (Bob) Trumm and Jayme (Rick) Iknoiah both of California; her mother-in-law, Leone Amo of Ironwood; brothers-in-law, Tom Amo of Philadelphia, PA, Jim (Brooke) Amo of Livonia, and Ken Amo of Ft Worth, TX; and several nieces and nephews. Faye was preceded in death by her father, the honorable judge, Stephen J. Catel, her mother, Ethel Catel; brother-in-law, Andrew Walton; and father-in-law, John M. Amo.

The family will receive friends at the Swanson-Lundquist Funeral Home on Sunday from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Trisagion will be held at 6:00 pm. The Funeral Liturgy will be held on Monday, July 18, at 11:00 am at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption with Rev. Tom Michalos officiating. Burial will be made in the Park Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Pedakis, Lou Roumanis, Paul Andronis, Paul Wainio, Gary Shaffer, and Craig Cox.

Memorials may be directed to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, 235 W. Ridge Street, Marquette, MI 49855 or to the Faye Amo Scholarship Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, 101 W. Washington Street, Marquette, MI 49855.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the doctors, nurses, and staff of Marquette General Hospital's Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units for the wonderful, compassionate care and the many kindnesses extended to Faye and her family. Faye's final days were quality time spent in loving and caring surroundings with family and friends at her side. She made every moment count and counted the moments until she could return home to family. Through sheer determination and medical assistance, she achieved her goal.

We are thankful for the many blessings she received and also for perhaps the greatest blessing of all, Faye, herself, whose life example continues to inspire and teach.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.swansonlundquistfuneralhome.com.

Adieu Madame Amo. Repose en paix.