Frances K. Elefson
October 11, 2010
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Service Details
Frances Kathryn Brown Elefson died Monday, October 11, 2010, at Sunnyview Care Center in Ankeny, Iowa surrounded by her family and friends. She was born to Jacob and Rose (Bishop) Brown December 21, 1919 in LaPorte City, Iowa. After graduating from the local high school, she moved to Des Moines, before obtaining her diploma in nursing from Iowa Methodist Hospital as RN in 1943.
In 1945 she traveled to New York City to marry Donald Elefson, the love of her life. Her husband, a US Navy corpsman, returned to the Navy off the coast of Italy, and Frances returned to Des Moines. After the couple was reunited at the end of the war, they made their home just north of Des Moines. Their union was blessed with 5 children. All five of their children graduated from the Saydel school system.
Frances and her husband were very active in the Highland Park Christian Church, the Saydel school system, and the Saylor Township community. Both Donald and Frances were employed by Mercy Hospital, from which Frances retired in 1975.
In 1975, the couple moved to Marshalltown, where they resided when Donald passed away in 1998. Frances moved to Ankeny in 2007.
In addition to her husband, Frances was preceeded in death by her parents, Jacob and Rose Brown; her sister, Arlene Remmington; and her brother, Roger Brown. She is survived by her children, Kathryn Cruse (John) of LaPorte, Donna Robinson (Kayne) of Gainsville, Va., Cheryl Pittman (David), of Des Moines, Donald, Jr (also known as Chip) of Indianola, and Cynthia Elefson of Arlington, Tx. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren, and many step-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Sunnyview Health Care Center in Ankeny, Iowa or Hospice of Central Iowa.
A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, October 14, 2010 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines. The family will greet friends one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.
Online condolences to:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Paula Rowan
10/12/2010
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. "Auntie Fran" and "Uncle Don" were wonderful to my children, (Michelle and Jamie Sommerlot, Central Christian Church, Marshalltown), as they were growing up. They showed them how to be loving, Christian people. Thank you for sharing them with us for a little while.
I am sure that Don was waiting for her with open arms and that the Angels are singing!!!!
Judi Pfantz
10/12/2010
I worked with "Frannie" at the Marshalltown Hospital many years ago, actually both she and Don as I was a messenger at that time. Frannie was such a neat, fun hard working person. She was working OB when I had my daughter and I remember her catching me changing my hospital linens the next morning (after a emergency c-section). She had a fit. Both she and Don were very well liked. They were both such nice energetic people. I had no idea when Frannie was so it was nice to see a picture of her. I hope she continued to have a rich , full life after leaving Marshalltown. She was a great gal. My sympathy to your family.
Rusty and Jane Beebe
10/12/2010
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with You, The Family on this day and the many days to come.
Dave and Diana Swanson
10/12/2010
Franny was a good friend of my mother Delores and they worked together many years. She was with my wife when our daughter was born. She was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed.