Jean Marie DeFabis, 81, of Carmel, died at home surrounded by family June 29, 2014. She was born March 1, 1933 in Port Chester, N.Y., to the late Herman and Anne Meyer. She is survived by her high school sweetheart and husband, Mike DeFabis, of 62 years; a sister, Cecelia Stack; four children, Mark (Joan) DeFabis, Chris (Jim) Gish, Monica (Lee) Schierbaum and Julie (Brian) Husselman; eight grandchildren, Maggie (Rich) McCracken, Michael (Amber) DeFabis, Laura (Aaron) Schnur, Nick (Abbey) Morton, Amy Lewis, Sophie (Ryan) Plappert, Grant Husselman and Cody Schierbaum; five great-grandchildren, Fiona, Elsie, Amelia, J.J. and Noah; and dozens of nieces and nephews. Jean was a member of St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church. They met while attending Arsenal Technical High School, from which they both graduated in 1950. She loved to volunteer with numerous charities and organizations. In the 1980s she became a ski instructor in Beaver Creek, Colo., and continued to be one of the most requested teachers over the years and even gained certification from the Professional Ski Instructors of America in her late sixties. She was a Past Chair of The Indianapolis Symphony Auxiliary and was very active in WINS. Jean loved volunteering for the Heartland Film Festival, and she was a big part of coordinating the 1987 Pan Am Games. She volunteered her time with local, state and national Republican campaigns during the years. She also served on various volunteer committees at the American Cancer Society where she helped to raise money for the fight against cancer. Jean was very active in life, if it was anything to do outside you could bet she was there – which included biking, hiking, camping, fishing and tending her flower garden at home. She also loved to cook and entertain. A funeral service was conducted July 2 at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church in Zionsville. Burial was at Washington Park North Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Augustine’s Little Sister’s of the Poor.
