Fannie Mae Napolitan DeWeese, age 90, died on September 24, 2012 at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois. The daughter of Graham and Inez Leonard Ford, she was born January 7, 1922 in Minonk, Illinois where she grew up. She was salutatorian of her high school class and continued academic excellence, graduating with a B.A. degree in Bible and Christian Education with highest honors from the Baptist Missionary Training School, Chicago, now absorbed by Colgate Theological Seminary in Rochester, New York. She received her M.Ed. from the University of Illinois in 1975.

She was married to the Rev. Thomas Napolitan, Presbyterian minister, in 1944. He preceded her in death in 1984. Her second husband, John DeWeese, whom she married in 1996, died in 2010, in Port Charlotte, Florida. Her four living children are: Jerry Philip Napolitan (Tonya) of Denver, CO, Dr. James Thomas Napolitan (Dr. Sandra) of Chicago, Betty Ann Napolitan of Brooklyn, NY, and John David Napolitan (Yuka) of Aurora, CO. She has three grandchildren, Alex, Anna, and Nikka. Preceding her in death were an infant son “Bobby” Napolitan and her brother Wesley Ford (his wife Alvina lives in Onalaska, WI.).

Fannie Mae worked for years with her husband in the Presbyterian ministry, as an educator in Christian Education, both in the local church and at the presbytery and synod levels, teaching in leadership schools and directing large children’s choirs that at one time sang yearly on Miami television.

From 1970 until her retirement in 1988 she taught in public elementary schools, first in Arlington Heights, IL and then in Florida. She was named Charlotte County Teacher of the Year 1981-82 and then by the state education department as an Associate Master Teacher in 1985-87.

Visitation will be held Saturday 10:00 AM to Noon, September 29, 2012 at Roberson Funeral Home Port Charlotte Chapel. Funeral services will be held Saturday 2:00 PM, September 29, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church, 2230 Hariet St., Port Charlotte, FL 33952. Dr. Kathleen L. Weller will officiate. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Port Charlotte.

A memorial service will be held in Detroit, MI in November. Remembrances may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Port Charlotte where she was an elder and teacher. Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to sign the memory book and extend condolences to the family.

Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.