Frances Durance Obituary (1901 - 1998)

Born Dec 13, 1901, Frances Durance attended Charlevoix High School in Charlevoix, MI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Frances Durance.

Graduation Year	Class of 1912
Date of Birth	Dec 13, 1901
Date of Passing	Nov 17, 1998
About	Frances Durance, 105, of Charlevoix died Nov. 17, 1998, at the Fuller Adult Foster Care Home in East Jordan. Frances was born April 15, 1893, in Charlevoix County, to George and Mary Isabel (Cook) Durance, early Charlevoix settlers. She was the last survivor of 10 children, and was preceded in death by her sisters, Margaret, Mary Elizabeth, Myrtle, Genevieve (Baumgarten); and brothers, William and Albin. Three infant brothers died during an epidemic in Charlevoix in the fall of 1888. She was also predeceased by a niece, Marygrace (Ragan) Robinson, of Romeo, Mich. Frances Durance's parents moved from the Ironton area to a home near Stover Creek (near the current Catholic cemetery), and then settled on the Mercer Boulevard and Waller Road farm before 1889. The Durance farm was home to Frances until her death. Frances attended Charlevoix schools, Valparaiso University (Indi- ana), and received her teaching degree from Ypsilanti Normal School (Eastern Michigan University) in 1923. She was a teacher and administrator in communities in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan for more than 30 years. She had served as principal of schools in Lake Orion, Oscoda and Boyne Falls. Every summer, and upon her retirement, from teaching, she returned to the Charlevoix farm to raise strawberries with her brother, Albin. She was an active American Youth Hostel hostess in her farm- house until she was 100 years old. Frances was a charter member of the First Congregational Church in Charlevoix, a longtime member and former officer of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 72, the Queen Esther Shrine in Petoskey, Rebekah Lodge in Charlevoix, the Green Pine Chapter of the Retired Teachers and the Grange. At the age of 94, she personally cared for her sister, Genevieve Baumgarten, and Genevieve's daughter, Mary- grace Robinson, through their last illnesses. She will be remembered by all who knew her for her modern spirit, intelligence, independence and generous heart. She is survived by her nephew, Edward (Shirley) Durance of Ann Arbor, and his family: Paul (Nancy) Durance, their sons, William and Richard, of Lexington, Ky., Diane Durance (Scott Ewen), their daughter, Kristen Ewen, and son, Timothy Ewen, of Ann Arbor; Laura (Andrew) Diestel, their daughters, Leah and Jessica, of Kansas City, Kan., and Stephen (Robbyn) Durance, and their sons, Matthew, Daniel and Peter, of Midland. Funeral service will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at the First Congregational Church in Charlevoix, with the Rev. Philip G. Schairbaum officiating. Burial will take place in Brookside Cemetery, Charlevoix. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until the time of service on Sunday at the church. The family suggests memorial contribution be made to the First Congregational Church of Charlevoix. Arrangements were handled by the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix.