FRANCIS Edith
Posted: April 20th, 2016FRANCIS
With sad hearts we announce the passing of EDITH FRANCIS, beloved mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother, on April 13, 2016 at Calgary, Alberta.
Edith, the daughter of Calvin and Irene Fletcher, was born Oct. 15, 1927 in Logan, Utah; the ninth child of Calvin and the first child of Irene. She grew up loving music and studied violin for most of her life. Edith attended Utah State Agricultural College (now USU) studying music and art, where she met Ronald Lee Francis, of Taber, Alberta, who was studying Civil Engineering. They were married in the Logan temple Oct. 5, 1948, following which they settled in Lethbridge, Alberta, where they raised 10 children. Edith was active in LDS Church activities and for many years played her violin in the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra and Southern Alberta Chamber Orchestra. She loved to travel and took numerous trips with her family, including a sojourn in Colombia, South America, where Ron worked on an irrigation feasibility study for a year, and later accompanied him for 3 months in Jamaica. When Ron retired they moved to Raymond until his passing in 1994, whereupon she returned to Lethbridge, then later to Calgary, where she has resided for the past 14 years.
She is survived by her 10 children: Bryan (Barbara Roxborough) of Calgary, Mardene of Calgary, Loren Joel (Luva Affleck) of Nampa, Idaho, Sara Jean (Richard Chatelain) of Salt Lake City, Ut, Lauralee (Robert G. Hatch) of Black Hawk, South Dakota, Leon Keith (Clairlyn Frome) of Farmington, Ut., Elizabeth (George Peterson) of Calgary, AB, Rosanna of Magrath, AB, Marianne (Doug Mabey) of Casper, Wyoming, and Timothy Ronald (Wendy Russell) of Calmar, AB; 43 grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren, and 46 great grandchildren, plus 2 brothers and 2 sisters in Utah.
Friends may meet the family on Friday, April 22 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at CHRISTENSEN SALMON GENERATIONS FUNERAL HOME, 703-13 Street North, Lethbridge, or prior to the funeral service on April 23 at the church from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.
The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS CHAPEL, 175 Rocky Mountain Blvd. West. Lethbridge.
Interment to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge.
As I visited with Edith for the last time, she kept thanking her Heavenly Father for the blessings she had and asked him to forgive her for complaining about the things that didn’t suit her then. She has taught me many things over the years of our friendship and I have grown to love her as my dear sister not just someone I visited on my VTroute.
I can see her being very happy as she meets her family and friends on the other side. I will miss our visits each month and will remember her words of wisdom as I continue on my journey here.
I love you Edith and hope we will meet again.
What a dear lady. Such an amazing lady to raise 10 kids. Yes, I know the older kids helped out A LOT too. I feel so privileged to know your family and to have spent so much time in your home. It was such a joy to see everyone at your viewing. I’m sure you and Ron were watching with pride, everyone there together at one time! I know you’re happy now, and my heart and prayers are with those who will miss you so much. I’m sure Ron and Edith and my parents are together visiting now. They knew each other from Ron’s days in Taber, so the 40’s.
Much love,
Sheila
Sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. It was at the same time as dad’s funeral and we were involved with that. They must have needed some violin players in the spirit world with dad and your mom going at the same time. Perhaps they are playing together. Our sympathies are with your and your family at this difficult time.
Love – Glenn & Charlotte Flethcer