Mrs. Gwendolyn Maureen (Shadow) Falk, age 92, passed into eternal life on Saturday, September 13, 2025, on the eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. She was born on December 4, 1932 in St. Louis, Missouri to Charles William Shadow Sr. and Clara Lee (Leighton) Shadow.

Gwen was a loving daughter and the eldest of three children. She grew up with two little brothers, "Billie" and "Jimmy." Born in the Depression Era, she lived in a multi-generational household with her parents, brothers, Grandpa Shadow and 'Gammy,' Grandma Leighton. Gwen did lots of chores for the family as both her parents worked, and she worked many jobs to earn money. An avid learner, Gwen began to attend Catholic school in 7th grade due to the school's proximity to her family's flat. This was a divine turning point in her life. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet inspired Gwen, introduced her to the Bible, and she drew closer to God. Starting at 12 years old, Gwen would awaken her brothers every Sunday morning to attend Mass with her.

Gwen graduated from All Saints Catholic School in 8th grade, and then from Rosati-Kain High School in 1950, where she'd received a scholarship at the prompting of Fr. Joseph McNicholas, who became a lifelong friend. Gwen loved math, creative writing, and literature, especially the classics. She also excelled on the debate team, a skill that later served her well raising so many children. Gwen originally worked as a switchboard operator for the telephone company, and then began college at St. Louis University (SLU), where she participated in theater productions.

One night on a double date, dressed in a ballgown, Gwen suggested making a spontaneous stop to ride a carnival ferris wheel. Jim Falk, a Green Bay native who also happened to be studying at SLU but who was NOT her date, was the only one game. As they exited the ride a group of children asked the handsomely dressed couple if they were getting married. Gwen laughed and said an emphatic "Yes!" and gave Jim a kiss. And so began a love story for the ages. After a brief courtship and solemn engagement, Gwen married Manuel James Falk on January 3, 1953 in St. John, Missouri at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church. After they were married, Gwen moved with Jim to Syracuse, New York and then Arlington, Virginia as Jim was serving in the Air Force. They later moved to Wisconsin for Jim to attend medical school. The family eventually settled back in Green Bay.

At the beginning of their marriage, Gwen and Jim joked around about having a large family, and God took them very seriously. They were incredibly blessed, and many times overwhelmed, with a grand total of 15 children! Gwen often quipped that God blessed her with so many children because it was the only possible way to strip her of her selfish and impatient nature. A natural leader, Gwen ran the Falk household with grace, grit, vitality, warmth, and plenty of humor. Champions of nature and education, Gwen and Jim took the kids on lots of outdoor adventures and encouraged higher learning. Gwen even led the kids on a summer-long road trip out West in 1972 to see the national parks. She also ensured that every child had a chance to attend college. She remained spontaneous and fun, doing things like surprising everyone by bringing home two puppies, going to two movies in a row just because, or getting warm cookies from Hardees on the way home from errands, to the delight of her children.

When the baby of the family was eight, Gwen returned to college for the first time since marrying Jim. Although the happiest days in her life were her wedding and the births of her children, she said her proudest day was walking across the stage at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay with her Bachelor's Degree in Humanistic Studies, Magna Cum Laude, on December 19, 1998. All of her children remember Mom writing out her papers on yellow legal notepads in her perfect script. Although instructed to 'hold applause' to the end, the Falk family took that as a suggestion, whooping and hollering for their incredible Mom, who had given so much for each of her 'angel babies.' It was one of the family's proudest moments too.

Above everything else, Gwen loved Jesus, and sought to serve Him throughout her life. Gwen knew she was a sinner in need of a Savior, and shared that reality with her children, discipling, praying, and inviting them back to the central reality of God's love. She was a faithful, loving, and strong match for Jim. They spent themselves for the good of each other and their children to the end of their earthly days, celebrating over 70 years of marriage. Later in life, Gwen continued to be active in the Church and in her family, even serving the Salesian Mission in Northern China with Jim and her brother-in-law, Fr. Bob. Gwendolyn Maureen has already so radically changed the world for the better, and she is not done yet. In her own words, "I love you all and I will pray for you every minute I'm in heaven, and I will pray so hard Jesus will get tired of listening to me!"

Gwen was ever the loving and doting grandmother to her 123 grand- and great-grandchildren.

Gwen is survived by her 15 children: Peter (Teresa) Falk, Mary Kathleen (Edward) Ryan, Mary Alice (James) Howe, Paul (Roxane) Falk, John Falk (Beth Bergman Falk), James (Dawn) Falk, Mary Sheila Falk (Joseph Klonowski), Mary Claire (Jeff) Wells, Mary Teresa Falk (Mark Leitschuh), Andrew (Paula) Falk, Matthew Falk (Deborah Koller Falk), Mary Margaret (John) Matthews, Mary Christine Falk, Mary Grace (Jason) Simon, Mary Elizabeth (John Michael) Muller.

She is also survived by 51 grandchildren: Stephanie (Kyle), Marie (Daniel), Matthew (Mackenzie), Jamie (Mitchell), Michael, Jennifer (Shane), Edward (Andrea), Anne (Jared), John (Ashleigh), Nicholas (Lisa), Gwendolyn (Marco), Mary Grace, James, Joseph (Kathleen), Robert (Keana), Lucie (Rodolfo), Monica (Edwing), Marianne (Robert), Emily (Erik), John Paul, Nicholas (Joanne), Raquel (Stephen), Vincent (Kendall), Logan (April), Molly (Bryan), Luke, Tessa (Margaret), Taylor (Nicole), Madison, Sarah Kate, Kate (Ariel), Sarah, Timothy, Sara (Chris), Anna, Zoe, Henry, Samuel, Benjamin (Kiara), Nathan, Magdalen, David, Jonathan, Daniel, Julia, Leo, Rosaline, Anthony, Vincent, Peter, Juliet, and 69 great-grandchildren: Isabel, Gideon, Asher, Mason, Adrienne, Rylie, Ezra, Benjamin, Hattie, Audrey, Winnie, Elsie, Christian, Tristan, Brielle, Brooklyn, Katherine, Edward, Michael, Mariana, Louis, Daniel, Austin, Colum, Rose, John, Levi, Dominic, Grace, Joy, Joseph, Katelynn, Mikayla, Irelynd, Jameson, Olivia, Matteo, Gianna, Logan, Malia, Adonis, Amerie, Gabriel, Lucas, Vincent, Clara, Luisa, Abigail, Evelyn, Eleanor, Sebastian, Josephine, Quinn, Aden, Zia, Quinn, Theodore, Maximillian, Veronica, Lily, Jasper, Savannah, Tony James, Alan Roman, Vera, Oscar, Hugo, and Kora. One new great grandchild is expected later this year.

Gwen is further survived by her brother Charles William Shadow, Jr, sister-in-law Dolores Shadow, as well as many nieces and nephews, whom she held very dear.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Manuel James Falk, her parents Charles William and Clara Lee Shadow, brother James Leighton Shadow, sister-in-law Dixie Shadow, her grandchildren Daniel Howe, Cory Falk, and Carrie (Augie) Barnhart, her nephews, Eric Falk and James Shadow, and her great-niece, Marnie Mackin.

Friends and family will gather at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 4pm to 6pm on Friday, September 26; Prayer Service to follow at 6pm. Visitation with continue at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 710 N Baird St., from 9am to 10am on Saturday, September 27; Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10am. Burial will be at Allouez Catholic Cemetery. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dr. M.J. and Gwendolyn M. Falk Family Scholarship at Notre Dame Academy, 610 Maryhill Drive, Green Bay, WI 54303. Please make checks payable to Notre Dame Academy, with the scholarship name noted in the memo.