Dolores J. Fairbanks
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Dolores Jeanne Fairbanks (Morley, Mayne), of North Branch Minnesota passed away at the age of 91, peacefully, on December 1, 2022 loved by many family members and friends.
Dolores was born to Joseph and Orena (Houle) Morley on September 17, 1931 in Forest Lake, Minnesota. She graduated from Forest Lake High School and went on earn her teaching degree at St. Cloud State University. She was married on July 28, 1951 to Robert James Mayne and was blessed with seven children, Jim, John, Jane, Jeff, Joe, Jerome and Jake. She married Gerald Fairbanks on March 22, 1980 and lived most of her life "on the farm" in North Branch. Previously, Dolores lived in Lexington and St. Paul, Minnesota.
Dolores loved family gatherings. She was a creative artist, a talented singer, a passionate teacher and a warm, and loving mother. Some of her favorite things were church, music, birds, the color blue, ice cream and her feline companions. She treasured her travels abroad later in life with her husband Jerry. In her career as a teacher she was most fulfilled when her students would have that 'light-bulb' moment when, for the first time, they would grasp a new concept she was teaching.
Her children can all remember her words while riding in the car: "Why don't you look out the window once in a while." And one of her more memorable, inspiring and problem-solving quotes was, "God will never give you more than you can handle - but you better bring a shovel."
Dolores is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Morley and Orena Morley, siblings LaVonne and (Arne) Servaty, Malcom and (Jean) Morley, Maureen and (Buck) Thurston, husbands Robert Mayne and Gerald Fairbanks, and children John Mayne and Jeffrey Mayne. She is survived by her siblings Shirley (Warren) Hallberg, John (Liz) Morley, her children, James (Sheila) Mayne, Jane (Darrel) Fisk, Joseph (Alicia) Mayne, Jerome (Pamela) Mayne and Jacob (Kristin) Mayne and two stepchildren, Amy Cheney Carlson and Troy Cheney. She is also survived by dozens of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
While she will be missed by many, she has completed her missions in this life and is now at peace; finally home to be with God and those loved ones who have gone before her.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in North Branch with Fr. Matt Shireman officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to mass at church on Saturday. Interment will follow the service at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in North Branch.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Grandstrand Funeral Home in North Branch. Condolences maybe expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com