We honor the life of Faye Williamson Stoness Hortenstine 4/11/1921-6/22/2018; 97 beautiful years.
To paraphrase her recent words, she had a Wonderful life,with a capital W, no ifs, ands or buts about it!
Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada she moved to New York City in the 1930’s with her parents, Jabez Franklin Stoness and Mildred Edna Turnbull Stoness. She attended Queen’s University in Canada and graduated from Barnard College in New York with a degree in English.
On 6/26/1947 she married Clarence Bernard “Hort” Hortenstine (deceased 2011) . After adventures in Minnesota, Oregon, Japan, Virginia and New York, adding four babies along the way, they settled in Florence, AL in 1960.
She is survived and greatly missed by those 4 children plus 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren:
Anne Hortenstine Rosin (Terry Bolz)
Jake (Miranda) Rosin and Candor
Cooper (Rachel) Rosin and Walt
Grady Rosin
Jill Hortenstine Iglehart (Deke)
Luke (Jaime) Iglehart and Evan, Brynn & Libby
Sarah Jane Iglehart Blank (Mike) and Charlotte & Molly
Joel (Casey) Iglehart and Stone
Martha Hortenstine Silver
Sarah Silver Payne (Nick) and Henry, William & Lucy
Ben Silver
Max (Tiffany) Silver and Faye & Campbell
Sam Silver (Chelsea Hamer)
Jay (Sharon) Hortenstine
Daniel Hortenstine
Emily (Matt) McDowell and William
Jack Hortenstine
Charlie Hortenstine
She dearly loved each one of them.
She cultivated a lifelong love of language; spoken, written and especially sung. She wrote that she was proudest of her whistling ability and her vocabulary, stating “Without words we can not think”. Some of her favorite sillier words were balderdash, pish-tush, fiddlesticks, and hunky-dory.
She claimed that her greatest life accomplishment was “longevity” and while her survivors are eternally grateful to have had her as their guide and compass for so long, they recall many more achievements. Not the least of which included Florence Mothersingers, Westminster Presbyterian Church volunteer superstar, Florence Summer Music Theater with incarnations of Dolly, Yenta, Bloody Mary, Mrs. Paroo, Mrs. Higgins, and published poet of “Accidental Music”.
Most of all she lived each day filled with effortless grace and abundance of love and kindness. She was clever, caring and classy, honest and honorable, lovely and loving.
For her family she held hopes for health, happiness and freedom from hurt. For herself she had hope of heaven.
After a life so full of grace, with a heart so full of love and His masterpiece complete, she wished to be remembered simply with a smile and a song.
Her memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1520 Rickwood Road, Florence, Alabama on Sunday, July 15th with visitation at 2PM and a service at 3PM.
Donations may be made in her memory to:
Westminster Presbyterian Church, www.westminsterpcusa.net
or:
The Betty Keller Garden Club, care of Brookdale ,
3275 County Rd. 47, Florence, Alabama 35630
With Pencil in Hand
This “poet” plays with puns and rhyme
In slap-dash style most of the time.
Success is measured by a smile
Or surprisingly, once in a while
Some accidental music.
– FWSH
