Frances Yamen

Brenda Anderson

05/07/2008

Four years ago I met Frances. I met her when I started volunteering at Sunny View. Carrie and I played bingo with her. When Carrie got a different job I took over and helped Frances. We became good friends. I got the privilege to sit with her at the Cubs game in Des Moines. She couldn't see the game so I told her what was happening. It was a great day. I went to the office and asked them if they would put her name on the big screen and they flashed Frances Yamen is 98 across the screen. It was on the screen when I got back to Frances. She was so excited and wanted me to take a picture of it. By the time I got my camera ready it was off the screen. It was a great day and she thanked me for being there. It felt great to be able to do this for her. She wouldn't drink anything before and during the game because she didn't want to use the restroom. Carrie and I celebrated her birthday with her. There were 3 residents that shared the same birthday with her. We ordered cake and had a birthday party for them. One time Ray and Ron showed up just when we were having the party. We were so excited to have them with us on her special day. They told us stories about Frances and riding in the corvette.
About two years ago I worked in the activity department for 3 months so I saw Frances everyday. She would always find me to help her find things, set out her outfit for Red Hat Club, and help her fix daily problems. I always enjoyed spending time with her. I helped her read her Xmas cards and sent out a few until she couldn't see to do them at all. She always had her routine on how she bounded the cards together with a rubberband and where she kept her stamps and past cards. Most of the time it was under her cushion in the chair she sat in to listen to the CUBS.
Her memory with dates and people was unreal. She could rattle off dates of birthdays, deaths and just about anything else.
I have known the last few months that she wasn't having much fun. She did play bingo two weeks ago in her wheelchair. She kept saying she shouldn't be playing because she couldn't hear or see. I told her that was why I was there and I was just excited to be able to spend time with her. I stopped in to see her on Friday. She wanted to know when the CUBS played. I looked at the schedule and told her the time. I told her I loved her and she said "o.k., and then said "How are you?" I knew she wasn't going to be here much longer but also knew she was ready to go. She loved the LORD so much. When I would pop in to see her she would have her rosary out praying. She always saved her bingo money to send to the church.
She was really upset when her friend Shirley died a couple of years ago. Shirley always watched out for Frances and would sit by her in front of the nurses station and visit with her.
Frances was so excited when Carrie had her baby. Carrie told her that she was Jankin's Grandmother. Frances loved that little boy and loved Carrie and her husband Nate. They visited her every week. I called and let Carrie know that Frances was in heaven.
We both feel honored to have known her. We will miss her but know she is in
heaven. Ron was so good to Frances and she always talked about how much she appreciated his help and caring for her. We all have enriched by knowing Frances.