1913
Helen
2007
Helen Francke
August 17, 1913 — February 1, 2007
HELEN H. FRANCKE, AGE 93, OF PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS, DIED THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2007 AT OVERLAND PARK REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR. HELEN DIED AS SHE LIVED; WITH DIGNITY, GRACE AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR ALL. SHE TOOK PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO CARE FOR HERSELF IN HER OWN HOME UNTIL RECENTLY. SHE PASSED AFTER A THREE-MONTH BATTLE WITH THE INFIRMITIES OF OLD AGE. IN HER FINAL HOURS SHE SAID TO US ?GOOD BYE AND GOD BLESS? AND ?GOD BLESS THEM ALL?, SO WE PASS HER BLESSING ON TO YOU.
HELEN WORKED A NUMBER OF JOBS, BUT WAS MOST PROUD OF HER ACHIEVEMENTS AS OFFICE MGR. FOR FIFTEEN YEARS OVER THE PULMONARY DISEASE GROUP AT KU MED CTR. AFTER HER RETIREMENT SHE WORKED AT THE MED CENTER AS A VOLUNTEER FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL SHE COULD NO LONGER DRIVE.
HERS WAS A LONG LIFE, RICHLY ADORNED BY PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YET TRAGICALLY SCARRED BY THE ILLICIT DEATH OF HER SON, MICHAEL, IN 1989 AND HUSBAND, DR. H. EDWARD, IN 1997. WHILE MANY WOULD CRUMBLE UNDER THE GRIEF, HELEN WAS INURED BY THESE EVENTS, AND SHE REMAINED THE GRAND DAME OF THE FRANCKE FAMILY.
SHE MAGNIFIED OUR ABILITIES AND SUCCESSES, MINIMIZED OUR FAULTS AND FAILURES. SHE TAUGHT US WELL AND PREPARED US FOR LIFE. MOM GAVE FREELY AND NEVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING IN RETURN. SHE HAD A HIGHLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG, AND DID NOT SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY. SHE TAUGHT US HOW TO LAUGH AND CRY AND WORK AND PLAY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SHE TAUGHT US HOW TO NURTURE OUR CHILDREN TO BE GOOD AND CARING INDIVIDUALS.
HELEN DEVOTED HERSELF TO HER FAMILY, HER CHURCH, AND HER JOB. A CONVERT TO THE CATHOLIC FAITH, SHE WAS MORE CATHOLIC AND CHRISTIAN THAT MANY BORN TO THE FAITH.
SHE IS PRECEEDED IN DEATH BY HER HUSBAND, DR. H. EDWARD, AND SON MICHAEL. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER CHILDREN: E. PATRICK, ANN AND KEVIN; ELEVEN GRAND CHILDREN; AND NINE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
REST EASY, MOM. YOU DID A HELLUVA JOB AND WE ALL OWE YOU AND DAD A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE. THANK GOD YOU DIDN'T MARRY THAT OTHER DENTIST!
MEMORIAL MASS WILL BE 11:00 A.M., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH 2007 AT ST. ANN?S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7241 MISSION ROAD, PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KANSAS, 66208. THERE WILL BE A RECEPTION WITH LUNCH FOLLOWING THE SERVICE AT THE CHURCH. INURNMENT AT A LATER DATE IN RESURRECTION CEMETERY, LENEXA, KANSAS. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS THE FAMILY REQUESTS MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ST. ANN?S CHURCH IN HELEN?S MEMORY.
HELEN WORKED A NUMBER OF JOBS, BUT WAS MOST PROUD OF HER ACHIEVEMENTS AS OFFICE MGR. FOR FIFTEEN YEARS OVER THE PULMONARY DISEASE GROUP AT KU MED CTR. AFTER HER RETIREMENT SHE WORKED AT THE MED CENTER AS A VOLUNTEER FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL SHE COULD NO LONGER DRIVE.
HERS WAS A LONG LIFE, RICHLY ADORNED BY PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YET TRAGICALLY SCARRED BY THE ILLICIT DEATH OF HER SON, MICHAEL, IN 1989 AND HUSBAND, DR. H. EDWARD, IN 1997. WHILE MANY WOULD CRUMBLE UNDER THE GRIEF, HELEN WAS INURED BY THESE EVENTS, AND SHE REMAINED THE GRAND DAME OF THE FRANCKE FAMILY.
SHE MAGNIFIED OUR ABILITIES AND SUCCESSES, MINIMIZED OUR FAULTS AND FAILURES. SHE TAUGHT US WELL AND PREPARED US FOR LIFE. MOM GAVE FREELY AND NEVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING IN RETURN. SHE HAD A HIGHLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG, AND DID NOT SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY. SHE TAUGHT US HOW TO LAUGH AND CRY AND WORK AND PLAY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SHE TAUGHT US HOW TO NURTURE OUR CHILDREN TO BE GOOD AND CARING INDIVIDUALS.
HELEN DEVOTED HERSELF TO HER FAMILY, HER CHURCH, AND HER JOB. A CONVERT TO THE CATHOLIC FAITH, SHE WAS MORE CATHOLIC AND CHRISTIAN THAT MANY BORN TO THE FAITH.
SHE IS PRECEEDED IN DEATH BY HER HUSBAND, DR. H. EDWARD, AND SON MICHAEL. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER CHILDREN: E. PATRICK, ANN AND KEVIN; ELEVEN GRAND CHILDREN; AND NINE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
REST EASY, MOM. YOU DID A HELLUVA JOB AND WE ALL OWE YOU AND DAD A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE. THANK GOD YOU DIDN'T MARRY THAT OTHER DENTIST!
MEMORIAL MASS WILL BE 11:00 A.M., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH 2007 AT ST. ANN?S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7241 MISSION ROAD, PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KANSAS, 66208. THERE WILL BE A RECEPTION WITH LUNCH FOLLOWING THE SERVICE AT THE CHURCH. INURNMENT AT A LATER DATE IN RESURRECTION CEMETERY, LENEXA, KANSAS. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS THE FAMILY REQUESTS MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ST. ANN?S CHURCH IN HELEN?S MEMORY.
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