Annette Helen Roos Faber

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Annette Helen Roos Faber, beloved eldest daughter to Dr. Julius and Gretel Roos; adored sister to Bambi and James; cherished wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, sister-in-law, and friend.

Annette was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and the love of her life, Irving Faber. She is survived by her four children: Julie, Jeffrey, David & Carolyn; their partners, who she always claimed as her own children; Charles (Chuck) Goding, Cosenza (Cozy) Carlson Faber, Dr. Tiffany Mullen and Felipe Garcia; and her seven beautiful grandchildren; Bryan, Berit, Sophia, Ava, Theo, Meriel and Gillian. Her family was the center of her universe and she was our sun, nurturing each of us with limitless warmth, light and love.

Annette and Irving’s bond was a testament to what true love looks like. They created a world of warmth, kindness and laughter readily shared with all in their midst. When he died in 1992, his absence left a gaping hole in our lives that only Annette could have filled. She had love, strength and wisdom for them both, and made sure we knew it.

Annette was a dedicated elementary school teacher until starting her family with Irving. Children and music appreciation were her lifelong passions and sources of hope in a troubled world. She spent many years volunteering for numerous non-profit organizations focused on childhood development and music education, eventually founding her own non-profit, Lively Arts of Chicago. Her proudest achievement in this work was in 2000, when she mounted a production of Brundibár, an opera by Czech composer Hans Krása, performed by children imprisoned in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Annette wrote, “They sang to forget. We listen to remember.” as the tagline for her production, which included a moving appearance by one of the original performers of the work who survived the camp, forever and deeply impacting the cast, crew and audiences.

Sailing was her other passion, discovered through a lifelong friend in the aftermath of losing her beloved Irving. Well into her 60s, she earned her skipper’s license and became part of a tight knit family of Chicago sailors. Navigating the winds and waves of Lake Michigan was where her heart really soared.

A lifelong teacher, student, music lover, and world traveler with insatiable curiosity, Annette had an infectious love for life matched only by her boundless energy. You could find her most often at a concert (especially in summertime at Millennium Park), on a sailboat with friends, at an art exhibition or lecture, traveling the world or engaged in the countless cultural and intellectual pursuits that brought her joy and challenged her mind. And, with uncanny regularity, friends from all corners of her life did find her in these places, to say nothing of the countless friends she made along the way.

Annette was committed to what she called “the art of living”, a principle held fast by her parents, rooted in the commitment to make a beautiful corner of the world to be shared with others; a simple wisdom made profound by the fact that her parents were German Jewish immigrants who fled Nazi Germany. She practiced the art of living daily, holding space for all people from all walks of life, and most especially for loved ones who despaired in dark moments. She had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel seen and loved.

As we mourn her loss, we celebrate her extraordinary life, grateful for the time we shared and the love she so easily gave. Her legacy of kindness, generosity, love, laughter, adventure, curiosity, and readily available chocolate at all times, is ours to uphold. Forever our skipper, she is with us always, steering us through life with music, a scholarly perspective, poems of hope and remembrance, and the understanding of how a little chocolate can bring a touch of sweetness to each and every day.

Rest in peace our dear Annette, mom, Omi, Auntie, ’Nettie, Annettechen, Annettelein - and thank you for teaching us how to live. You left a beautiful, indelible mark on this world and our hearts.

For those who wish to honor her memory with a charitable donation, the family suggests WFMT and their Bach to School program: https://www.wfmt.com/bach-to-school/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WeinsteinFuneralHomes.com for the Faber family.