SEYMOUR
Lena Faye Kovener, 95, of Seymour, passed away Monday, April 20, 2015, at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour.
Born July 5, 1919, on the family farm in Reddington, she was the daughter of Ben and Grace Gilbert Shannon, both of whom preceded her in death. On March 15, 1941, she married William Isaac Kovener, who preceded her in death in 2002.
She was the owner of Kovener’s Korner ice cream store on West Second Street, a tradition in Seymour for 67 years and a recipient of the Governor’s Award for a half-century as an Indiana business.
An elder emeritus, Lena Faye was active in the Christian Women’s Fellowship and was one of the oldest longstanding members of Central Christian Church in Seymour.
For many years, she was a member of the Hilltop Home Economics Club and served as president of the Jackson County Extension Homemakers. Along with her husband, she was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, regularly driving patients to Indianapolis for treatments.
She began her interest in music with violin lessons as an 8-year-old with Mary Margaret Barkman, continued with orchestra in high school, sang in the Triad Chorus and church choirs and played violin into her 80s, always encouraging her sons into musical endeavors.
With the outbreak of World War II, Lena Faye left her job at the Indiana Telephone Company and followed her husband to his various military postings in the eastern U.S. These changes often included traveling alone on a train to a large city with no prearranged lodging.
She retired from Jackson County Farm Bureau Co-op, having worked there from 1958 to 1981. After her retirement, she read to children at the Boys & Girls Club of Seymour, taught crocheting at the Seymour Public Library, knitted caps for babies at Schneck Medical Center and could often be seen with her dog, Micah.
Lena Faye is survived by two sons, Gary Shannon (Sharon) Kovener and Richard Wayne (Terra) Kovener; and two grandchildren, Nicholas and Meredith.
Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Otis and Lawrence; and two sisters, Helen and Louise.
The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Voss Chapel in Seymour with the Rev. Kit Bogan officiating. Burial will follow at Reddington Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 12:30 p.m. until time of service Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Central Christian Church, Reddington Cemetery or donor’s charity of choice.
Online condolences may be made at vossfuneralservice.com.