Apparently, it is time for me to move on to the “other side”. I’ve had 89 years in this world filled with family, friends, & fun. For years I have said, “If I die today, I’ll die happy”. I hope to be with my husband Milt (who died in 2016), my Mom, Dad, siblings & good friends who’ve gone before me. I will miss my daughter Bev & her husband Pete, my daughter Tracy who has been my personal caregiver these past few years (bless her heart), my daughter Leslee & her partner Gaston, & my son Kelly. How will they manage without me?! Speaking of begats, I also have 2 grandchildren: Megan who is raising 4 of my great grandchildren (Leam, Wyatt, Quinley, & Sawyer) & Robert who married Kristy & produced my 5th great grandchild Aubrey.
I was born to pioneer farmers Magdeline (nee Zarowny) & Joseph Kachmarski near Brock, a small town in Sask, but spent most of my life as a wife & mother in Calgary. I’d met Milt when I was 15, married at 19, & started a family right away. I did work outside our home part-time at Sears while raising our children & as a banquet manager after they all flew the coop but really, caring for Milt was a full-time occupation! We finally sold our family home of 55 years in Calgary & moved to Vernon to live out our retirement closer to 2 of our daughters. It was hard to leave our close, long-term friends but they are mostly dead now so maybe I’ll see them again, too! I have always said, “Life is hard. Then you die.” But it has been a good life. My final words of wisdom to the throngs who will mourn my passing: “Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think!”
Fran had planned to host her own Celebration of Life party in May/2020 but the Covid 19 pandemic interfered. This was a huge disappointment to her but after a few recent health issues she had lost her yearning to party. She died Mar 3/22 with her daughters at her side. She does not want a funeral but you are welcome to watch her video tribute which we had planned to show at her party: vimeo.com/572523330/f63a49e429
Her & Milt’s cremains will be interred in a columbarium in the cemetery at Brock, Sask.
Memorial donations in Fran’s memory can be made to the Canadian Red Cross.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Stella Fran Lyons March 3rd 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Vernon, Province: Colombie britanique