On Wednesday, October 14th, 2015, over 200 guests, family and friends, gathered for Francine's Celebration of Life Ceremony at the D & S Southern Comfort Restaurant in Carlsbad Springs ON.
The event was a standing room only affair honouring someone special, Francine. As photos played on two big screens, audience conversations paid tribute to the wonderful person she was.
The ceremony began with the lighting of candles by the grandchildren Cadence, Kayley, Blaiden, Aleka and Olivia. Susan Veale, the acting celebrant, spoke of her time with Francine as a health practitioner and friend. Andrew, Amanda & Mark, Christine Vonhone and David shared stories about Francine's life. As words were spoken, tears of joy and expressions of love filtered throughout the room.
On display were several of Francine's paintings. Thanks go to all who donated to Fran's art group, the AACR (Association des Artistes Clarence - Rockland)
After the ceremony, a hot buffet meal was served and for everyone, a special treat was prepared by Amanda, Christine and her mother Madeline; fresh home made pies.
To view Francine's guest book, copy and paste the following link into a browser.
http://fransbook.weebly.com/
Tributes
Leave a tributeStill thinking about my little sister and the good times!!
Simon.
But time marches on.
Je ne t'oublis pas! I so wish you could come back & tell us how you are.
Fran loved to be at the lake. She said she wanted the lake setting to be her final resting place. On July 30th, 2016, her wish was fulfilled. In the gallery section under video’s, is a collection of photos from this day.
If you have trouble loading the file you can also view the video on Dropbox by cutting & pasting this address into a browser.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zxnv60mohdg33y7/Fran%20Memorial%20Lac%20Dudley.mp4?dl=0
Words, however kind,
can't mend your heartache:
but those who care and ,
share your loss wish you,
comfort and peace of mind.,
May you find strength,
in the love of family,
and in the warm embrace,
of friends.,
xox
She left too soon, we miss her.
Pray for us Fran and keep watch over your family.
Simon.
Regards
Arnold Davidson
From the first week I could feel the sense of family. It was not just a job, it was like going to spend time with friends and family. I worked side by side with Fran almost everyday and she made it feel just like you were hanging with your best friend. She was always in a good mood and smiling.
I will miss you Fran!
Dianne
My sympathies to her family and friends.
Andrew & family, please accept my condolences in this difficult time. I will keep your family in my prayers.
Suzanne and Mike
Fran was a very special person and will be missed by all.
Bill Condon
Eastman Music
She was always so pleasant and friendly whenever I saw her at Musicare.
She will be greatly missed.
Take care.
Inge
Je me souviendrai toujours de certaines mémoires de Francine qui m’ont influencé durant ma jeunesse. Toutes les filles dans la famille ont appris à coudre grâce à la patience de maman, et lorsque Francine décidait de se coudre une nouvelle mode, j’admirais toujours ses choix. Lorsqu’elle se préparait pour sortir les vendredi soirs, elle était la plus “cool” et j’aimais ça aller avec papa la reconduire au bistro à l’église St François d’Assise. Plus tard, lorsque Francine a commencé à travailler pour Met Life, elle se permettait d’acheter du linge. Elle avait un “flair” pour la mode du temps, surtout les années ‘60s. Francine avait aussi un talent naturel de coiffeuse et souvent elle se faisait les cheveux en “backcomb” comme sa chanteuse préférée Connie Francis. Elle préparait souvent la coiffure de maman pour une sortie spéciale. Francine était la plus “hot” des filles du neighbourhood, avec sa beauté et sa joie de vivre.
Francine a toujours aimé l’art et je me souviens de ses beaux dessins. Un de nos “passe-temps” en famille était de s’assoir à la table et dessiner ensemble. Je suis contente qu’elle a vraiment évolué son talent artistique durant les dernières années de sa vie, avec la peinture et le verre coloré. Elle exprimais aussi ses talents artistique dans sa cuisson, ses pâtisseries, son jardinage et son décor de maison.
Le temps passe trop vite et le présent nous rappelle que la vie est précieuse. Nous avons tous perdu la “chearleader” de notre grande famille. Ma chère soeur Francine, repose en paix. Je t’aime beaucoups et nous allons tous manquer ta présence dans notre vie.
Being the youngest in the family, I often found myself being the observer amongst all my brothers and sisters, and sometimes the victim of their gags and jokes. We were often all together doing some kind of activity, be it swimming at Westboro or Britannia beach, or skating at the arena. Sometimes we made our own skating rink in the back yard and we built the longest snow slide from our back porch. We helped Dad prepare the garden every spring. I will never forget the time Francine and Monique wrapped me up in old torn bed sheets to transform me into a Mummy for Halloween. Francine is present in these memories that I hold dear in my heart.
Many of my memories of Francine influenced me a lot in my youth. We all learned to sew our own clothes thanks to our patient Mom, and I always admired Francine’s fashion choices in whatever she sewed. Whenever she got dressed up to go out to the bistro on Friday nights at St -François d’Assise church, she was always so “cool” looking, and I often went with dad to drive her there. Later, when she started working at Met Life, she was able to buy her own clothes and had her own flair for fashion, especially in the ‘60s. Francine was also a natural hair dresser. She often styled her hair with backcombing like her favorite singer Connie Francis. She often styled our Mom’s hair for those special occasions. Francine was in many ways the “hottest”girl in the neighborhood with her good looks and fun loving smile.
Francine always enjoyed art and was very good at it. I remember many of her sketches and drawings. Our family passtimes included sitting around the table and drawing together. I admire that she was able to resume her art work in her later years and evolve in her artistic style with painting and stained glass. She also expressed her artistic talents in her cooking, baking, gardening and home decor.
Time goes by too quickly and the present reminds us that life is precious. Our large extended family has lost its chearleader. My dear sister Francine, rest in peace. I love you and we will all miss your presence in our lives.
Jo & Iris
Let her legacy live for many years to come in the community.
My deepest sympathies to Andrew and his family.
May your Mom's memory bring you happiness in your loss.
May you find strength in the love of Family and the warm embrace of friends to help you through this difficult time. Remember that your loss is shared by many. Sincere condolences to you all and my thoughts and prayers are with you.
It is with great sadness that our sister Francine has left us, her body ravaged by this scourge which we know as cancer but I rejoice knowing that her soul is in that other dimension with its Creator and our parents helping to watch eternally over our growing family.
Francine and I shared a great passion for flowers. During the last 3 years we visited flower gardens in Quebec & Ontario. Her greatest pleasure was to buy new plants for her garden. During the last months of her life, her son Andrew (& Sheryl) helped her out for planting all these flowers since she did not have the strenght anymore. I hope that wherever you are Fran, you will still be able to tend to new gardens full of flowers.
Il m’a été donné cette chance, et je dis bien «chance » de la revoir lors du Carnaval à Embrun l’an dernier. Cela m’a permis de la jaser un peu et entre nos conversations de tout et de rien, elle nous a parlé de sa maladie et des choix qu’on lui proposait vis-à-vis de cette fichue maladie. Elle me semblait d’un calme hors de l’ordinaire et elle était de bonne humeur et optimiste. À lire les hommages qu’on lui rend aujourd’hui, je réalise que j’étais en présence d’une personne avec une force intérieure hors de l’ordinaire.
On sait maintenant que la vie en a décidé autrement, mais cela me donne une leçon de vie. Il faut profiter des gens qui nous entourent et saisir toutes les occasions qui se présentent à nous pour mordre dans la vie. Lui rendre hommage, ce n’est pas de s’enfermer dans la douleur, mais c’est vivre comme elle aurait vécu et la faire vivre à travers nous.
Bon courage et je pense à vous très fort.
«Tu n’es plus là où tu étais, mais tu es partout, là où je suis» Victor Hugo
I am grateful that we met, you were a lovely friend with a kind heart.
Bernard Levesque Artiste peintre
Steffi Ortiz
Allison Woyiwada, Hopewell Ave Public School
Ursula
Her kindness, smile, and cheerful presence will be remembered and missed. My sympathy to Dave, Mark, Andrew and all of your family.
Leave a Tribute
Still thinking about my little sister and the good times!!
Simon.
Please be patient.
A Mother's Love...
When our son Mark was a toddler, he required eye surgery. Bandaged across his eyes for a week, he became lost and withdrew even at his young age. He stopped fussing and I guess, accepted the darkness.
On a Sunday morning, around 8:30am, I brought Mark from his crib into our bedroom and put him onto our bed. Slowly, I undid his bandages. When they were fully removed, he blinked his eyes a couple of times, looked at me and then turned to his mother when she made a “cooing” sound. His limited vocabulary held back his words of love but his heart didn’t; he crawled over to her and hugged her for all he was worth and her smile beamed.