Lou Ann Hensel

Lou Ann Matilda Hensel, 89, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, ran joyfully into the arms of her loving Savior Jesus Christ, surrounded by her family in the home of her granddaughter, Samantha Faurote, of New Haven, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, after a lengthy illness.  

Lou Ann was born on April 2, 1935, to Lloyd Homer Oser, and Viola Sophia (Graft) Melton in Ossian, Indiana, and lived most of her life in Fort Wayne. Lou Ann worked up until her retirement in the Hospitality industry. 

Lou Ann loved fishing, playing euchre, and above all else, helping others.  People gravitated to her and her happy disposition—she never met a stranger and had many friends.  She was never without an entertaining story; punctuated as she told it with her infectious laugh.  She loved helping others and generously did so all her life.  She will be remembered by her family as a strong, capable, and steady woman who met her life’s challenges head-on, encouraging others to do the same.  In 1975, Lou Ann was presented with The Waitress of the Year Award for the State of Indiana; an award she was extremely proud of—if you just met her, she would tell you this within the first half-hour of talking to her.  

Lou Ann was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles Lewis Faurote, and her second husband, Richard Karl Hensel.  She was also preceded in death by her infant daughter, Sharon Eve Faurote, sister Mary Lou Hay, and daughter in law, Vicki Faurote.

Lou Ann is survived by her four children, Sheila (Steven) Wise, of Churubusco; Cheryl Pike, of Fort Wayne; Joseph Faurote, of Richardson, Texas; and Angela Ray, of Hicksville, Ohio.  In addition to her children, she is also survived by her sister Luella Wilson, of Ossian; sister Helen Rakestraw, of Fort Wayne; sister Billie (Bobby) Thomas, of Angola, 13 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor of Lou Ann be made to Golden Harvest Food Bank, or the food pantry of choice. 

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