Faye Elaine Williams

Faye Elaine Williams, nee Hergenroeder, 78, of Eureka, Missouri, passed peacefully at home on May 12th, 2026. Born on November 1st, 1947, in Belleville, Illinois, Faye lived a life centered around family, celebration, laughter, and making people feel deeply loved.

Faye was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Ronald G. Williams; her father, Homer W. Hergenroeder (Dorothy); and her mother, Elaine F. Hergenroeder (nee Hirsch).

She was the proudest mother of her three children, Dr. Kimberly (Dr. Shawn) Patton, Dr. Brady (Kayla) Williams, and Krista (Joe) Horbenko; cherished grandmother to Bodie, Kayla, and Ava Patton, Addison and Charlotte Williams, and Lonnie, Collins and Piper Horbenko; and beloved sister of Duane “Roy” (Judi) Hergenroeder.

If you knew Faye, you loved her.

Faye grew up in Waterloo, Illinois, on S. Moore St. alongside her dear brother Roy and her beloved parents, Homer and Elaine. Some of her favorite memories came from her younger years with her group of lifelong girlfriends known as the “Seven Funny Ladies,” and also when she met the love of her life, Ron Williams. Their love story started here, becoming partners in crime, married for 53 golden years.

After high school, Faye went to work for TWA, a glamorous next step for a small-town girl. She loved traveling, especially her trips to Hawaii, and often came home with stories and a little more worldly wisdom than Ron… teaching him the “proper” way to smoke a cigarette and impressing him with her very first credit card, a MasterCard, which Ron thought was so cool.

Next came Virginia Beach, where Ron was stationed in the Navy and Faye visited often - a chapter they always looked back on so fondly, retelling unforgettable stories for years to come. It was there that lifelong friendships with best friends Danny and Rod began, leading to countless ski trips, beach vacations, and plenty of White Russians along the way. Soon after, they were engaged and onto their next adventure in Davenport, Iowa, where Ron attended Palmer College of Chiropractic.

This is where their first daughter, Kimberly, was born - the same year Ron graduated in 1977. They returned home to Monroe County to begin building the life they dreamed of. Brady came next - proudly known as the golden child - followed a little over two years later by Krista, the surprise baby who completed the family.

Their beloved home on Kosciusco holds some of the most magical memories - a place where life felt good and the music was always playing. Countless pool parties with pork steaks, birthday celebrations, Christmas brunches, costume parties, and evenings spent on the deck with steaks and Manhattans.

Faye was known for her love of the St. Louis Cardinals, making football trays, potato salad, cucumbers, and the grandkids’ favorite brownies. She inspired Kim’s love of cooking. She loved decorating for every holiday, polka and Motown music, fish fries with Uncle Roy, and shopping trips with Krista. Gift giving was her love language. Grandma Faye never showed up empty handed - always with lollipops in her purse or pre-made bags of M&Ms.

Faye loved her career as a Chiropractic Assistant, working alongside Ron for decades. Their office and their patients were such a meaningful part of their life. Brady was fortunate to work beside them for 17 of those years. Some of Faye and Ron’s favorite memories were made traveling the country for chiropractic seminars with their dear friends, George and Lyn.

They were best friends and genuinely loved doing life together. Even on the verge of becoming empty nesters, they found another chapter of joy at the Lake of the Ozarks, where countless memories were made at the family condo and out on the boat. Somehow, they always knew how to keep their grown kids - and their friends - coming back. They were simply magnetic, and being together was where everyone wanted to be.

Though a stroke 12 years ago left Faye with physical challenges, she never allowed this to define her life. Even after enduring a broken hip and then losing Ron just six weeks later, she continued finding joy in what mattered most to her… being Mom and Grandma. She defied all odds and lived the last chapter of her life with a renewed sense of self and gratitude that she was lucky enough to still be here, and, of course, always looking beautiful. She would often comment that she felt bad that Dad wasn’t here to see it too.

Over the last year, some of life’s sweetest memories were made. Fridays became Mom and Brady days - lunches at Joe Bocardi’s and errands around town. A golf trip to Arizona with Bodie, Kim, and Shawn. A girls shopping getaway with Kim and Krista. A recent outing to Ballpark Village. One last round of margaritas at Pueblo Solis. And, of course, sleepovers with the grandkids that always left them asking when they could do it again.

Just two days before her passing, the family shared one last Mother’s Day for the books - spending all day together outside, swimming, laughing, sipping vodka tonics, and with Mom right at the center of it all. Nobody ever wanted family time to end.

Faye and Ron intentionally cultivated a family culture rooted in closeness, loyalty, and tradition - something Kim, Brady, and Krista are profoundly grateful for today. It almost feels like they couldn’t be apart for too long… true soulmates. Somehow finding their way back to each other in divine timing. It marks the end of an era, leaving their children with a deep ache and a lasting nostalgia for the magic they created together.

The loss of Faye is massive. But what a gift it was to love her, laugh with her, celebrate with her, and be loved by her. Her family wouldn’t trade a single memory.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cardinals Care in honor of Faye’s lifelong love of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Please join us in honoring a beautiful life well lived. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 14th, 2026, at Quernheim Funeral Home. Visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a memorial service beginning at 2:00 p.m. A reception will be held immediately following at Millpond Brewing, located at 308 E. Washington St., Millstadt, IL 62260.