Faith was born in Cleveland and started her life on 1888 East 66th street, first daughter of Thad (Thaddeus) Filipiak and Roberta Vance Filipiak. At that time, their marriage was challenging for their families - unions between Polish Catholics and Scottish Presbyterians were not that common. Faith was a premature baby, spending several months in an incubator before coming home. This may have contributed to health conditions that were to surface later, but a favorite and sad family story passed on was that Roberta was advised to smoke to help alleviate morning sickness.

Faith and her family, which now included a baby sister (Zo), moved to Orange Village, where the girls would complete grade and high school. During these years, Faith was almost always to be found with her nose in a book.  Family lore has it that when she got her first ride back from college, she could not provide directions to her house, because she had never ridden anywhere without a book!

Faith was a proud graduate of Hiram College where she fell in love with biology and mycology. Supposedly, on a break from Hiram she went mushroom hunting, and her mother trusted her knowledge enough to use them to make dinner for the whole family. Everyone survived.

In summer school working towards a master's degree, Faith met Joseph, a Nigerian student perusing his dream of higher education in the United States. In spite of family opposition on both sides, Faith and Joseph decided their future lay together.  Faith moved to Washington DC with Joseph, completing her degree at George Washington University.  They were married in June 1966, a year before Loving Vs. Virginia.  Despite the fact that the guests came in the back door - the pastor was afraid that their union might cause his church to be bombed - it was still a happy affair.

In the years to follow, Faith worked at the US State Department and at UNTH (University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital) Enugu Campus.  In both jobs, Faith could stop conversation with her insight on tropical parasites and the information to be gleaned from her microscope.  None of her children - Adaora, Jide, Chika and Sobechi - would follow her into the sciences.

Faith had the unique experience of being rooted in two families – but on opposite sides of the world.  Her mother Roberta and her sister-in-laws, Emily and Rhoda played pivotal roles - providing ongoing care for Faith and stepping in to mother her children as needed.

It became apparent, and then confirmed with an official diagnosis, that Faith would have a lifelong battle with mental illness. As Faith was diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder, Joseph set the family course.  No matter where Faith lived, her family would protect and care for her.

As Faith tried to manage family and career in the face of an every changing and rapidly progressing chronic disease, she still managed to be welcoming and giving for family members from the village who made their way to her door.  She believed, as did Joseph, that a good education was everything; and that faith in God was foundational. Their faith kept them moving forward through some very difficult times.

Faith had followed Joseph back to the United States. They both hoped for better care for her - although in their hearts they may have known there was no cure for her illness, they were still hopeful and faith filled.

Faith was to call three cities home through her life - Cleveland, Washington DC (even though she lived in Maryland - DC was the City!), and Enugu.  This period saw her returning to first DC and then to Cleveland.

Although there were countless ups and downs as new medication and therapies were tried, there were also moments of joy.  Faith attended three weddings and welcomed new "children" into her family: Eric - Adaora's husband; Uzoamaka - Jide's wife; and Sally - Chika's wife. Stories about her grandchildren - Zeke, Arthur, Raluchi, Shanthi, Nnamdi and Lotanna - were guaranteed to get her attention and a smile.

Forty-five years after they were married, Faith said good-bye to Joseph. Together, they had flown in the face of convention and bigotry. Their union, their battle against mental illness and the toll it took on their careers and lives, were challenges they took on and figured out on their own. In doing so, they created a legacy of family, faith, and love for God to show their family and the world the possibilities of love.

Faith would live 10 more years after Joseph died. She continued to reach out to family as she was able; and to make new friends and experiences. Faith never felt her life was extraordinary; her marriage, her straddling of two worlds - all things that were infinitely possible. Although in her lifetime there had been no cure for her illness, she still had faith in the possibility. Her last wish was that her body be donated to medicine. With faith, nothing is impossible.