Shannon F. Illich

Shannon Fountain Illich went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 24, 2014. She was born June 17, 1934, to Frank and Viola Fountain. As a child, Shannon was the queen of the Possum Neck Gang Mardi Gras parade of 1938. Shannon was a 1952 graduate of Biloxi High School where she was a drum majorette and homecoming maid. She met the love of her life, Rene James Illich, in the seventh grade and they married in 1953. The majority of their life together was in Biloxi and Long Beach, MS. Shannon worked several secretarial jobs during her lifetime but her greatest role was as a wife and mother to her six children. Her intelligence, compassion and always beautiful smile will never be forgotten. From her humble beginnings on the Biloxi point, she grew into a strong woman with a deep Christian faith who always put the needs of others before her own. She will be greatly missed by all that were fortunate enough to know and love her.
She was an active member of St. Thomas Catholic Church. She loved the New Orleans Saints, the Atlanta Braves, southern cooking, dancing, and traveling.
She is survived by her husband of sixty years, Rene James Illich; two sisters - Sylvia Diaz and Diane King; one brother - Ray Fountain; six children and their spouses - David (Kathleen) Illich, Ronnie (Carla) Illich, Tom (Nyanne) Illich, Glynn (Iana) Illich, Lori (Bill) Carpenter and Carolyn(Kevin) Monson; seventeen grandchildren - Michael Illich, Alexis Illich, Michelle Illich, R.J. Illich, Amber Illich, Cody Illich, Zachary Illich, Jakob Illich, Nick Illich, Ben Illich, Kayla Illich, Matt Illich, Ivanna Illich, William Carpenter, Elizabeth Carpenter, Madeleine Monson and Jonah Monson; and four great-grandchildren.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Father Louis Lohan and all of our extended family and friends for all their thoughts and prayers.
Her visitation will be on Thursday, June 26, 2014, from 10 - 11 am at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 720 East Beach Blvd., Long Beach. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am in the church. Burial will be in Gulf Pines Memorial Gardens. A reception will be held in the St. Thomas Community Center.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38148 or call 1-800-533-8830 and note tribute entry 36210717.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com