Felizitas Maria Cerbins died in Sun City West, Arizona on April 13 surrounded by family. Faye was born August 20, 1931, in Silesia, Germany. She was the daughter of Alfred and Martha Schwiedel and older sister of Peter-Klaus. In the winter of 1945, the family fled the advancing Soviet Army. After many weeks in various refugee camps, they settled in Kempten, Germany.
Felizitas graduated from the Bayern Verwaltungschule in 1952. She worked in the city hospital and later in various administrative positions for the city of Kempten. She met Raimond, a US Army Corporal stationed in Bavaria, while he was visiting his parents in Kempten. They were married September 25, 1954 in the St Lorenz Basilica, Kempten. In January of 1955 at Port Bremerhaven, the couple boarded the SS General Darby to begin their voyage to the United States. They settled in Appleton, Wisconsin where many of Raimond’s Latvian relatives had immigrated.
In 1968, the family moved to Monroe, Wisconsin. Faye’s family was warmly welcomed, and she came to love Monroe. Faye worked for 22 years at St. Clare Hospital (later named Monroe Clinic Hospital) as director of Medical Records and later as Quality Assurance Coordinator. She was a certified professional in healthcare quality and an accredited medical records technician. She was an active member of St. Victor Catholic Church serving on the welcoming committee and taught second grade catechism for several years. She loved playing bridge with her Monroe group and continued playing into her 90’s.
In 2003, Faye and Rai moved to Sun City West, joining many dear Monroe friends and while there would make many new friends.
Felizitas is survived by her children Eric (Judy) Cerbins of Berlin, Wisconsin, Alfred (Susan) Cerbins of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, son in law Thomas Ray of Ludlow, Vermont, six grand children Kristin (Brett) George, Craig (Megan) Cerbins, Benjamin and Emily Cerbins, and Katherine and Rachel Ray. She has five great grandchildren, Harrison, Beckett and Graham George and Caroline and Luke Cerbins. She was preceded in death by her husband Raimond, her daughter Andrea Maria Cerbins Ray and her brother Dr. Peter-Klaus. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to ovarian or breast cancer research. Please join Faye’s family in sharing memories, pictures or videos on her tribute wall at www.caminodelsol.com.
