Avis de décès de Frances Lawrence

LAWRENCE, FrancesOn September 5, 2013, Frances Lawrence of Edmonton passed away at the age of 97 years at Edmonton General Hospital. Frances had just moved from Misericordia Hospital where she had spent the past several weeks surrounded by the presence of friends and family.Frances was predeceased by her husband Ken in September, 2011 and is survived by her son Ken (Kazuko) of Vancouver; daughter Maureen of Calgary; grandchildren Keltie (Aaron), Brittany (Rob), Ken Jr; and great-grandchildren Aiva and Weston. Frances had enjoyed an independent lifestyle at her assisted- living facility in Terra Losa until her admittance to hospital.Frances was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan on May 12, 1916. Her father was a traveling salesman for McCormicks and Weston Biscuits. She was raised with three siblings. Frances trained as a nurse at the Salvation Army Grace Hospital in Winnipeg and later nursed in Kincaid and Swift Current, Saskatchewan. In 1943, Frances went to Whitehorse, Yukon to work at the Whitehorse Hospital.It was in Whitehorse where Frances met her future husband Ken Lawrence. She was nursing a prisoner on the night shift while Ken was guarding the prisoner as a young RCMP officer. They played games of cribbage to pass the time. They got married in Vancouver but they moved to Edmonton in 1947 where they lived for most of the remainder of their lives. Ken had come from a large family of ten children and, including her own family, Frances spent her life surrounded by people who loved her and treated her as a member of their own family.Frances worked at the Royal Alexander General Hospital when first moving to Edmonton and later at Norwood Auxiliary Hospital before retiring in 1975. She also worked as a nurse in Ottawa where she lived for five years after Ken's transfer there with the RCMP.Frances (and Ken) went on many holidays before and after retirement. Their trips included several cruises and also trips to England, Ireland and Scotland where Frances was able to visit her many relatives there. Both her mother and father had come directly from England and Northern Ireland.Frances was a member of the IODE and often worked in their thrift shop. She had also been active in Norwood United Church as well as groups related to her husband's RCMP, Masonic and Shriner activities.A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September the 13 at Callingwood Road Presbyterian Church, 6015 - 184 St. NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6M1T8.In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Al Shamal Shrine, Patient Transportation Fund, 14510 - 142 St., Edmonton, Alberta T6V1H9 (This fund is for the Shriners work with sick children).