It is with deepest sadness that we say goodbye to our wonderful wife, mother and gran, Fran Sutton. Predeceased by her parents Victor and Lucy, and older brothers, Eric and Jim, she will be deeply missed by husband Bob, son Lloyd, daughter Elaine (Tim Kelly), grandson Riley Sutton, Riley’s mother Andrea Newsom, sisters-in-law Leila Rooke, Hazel Sutton and in-laws Dick and Mary-Lou Sutton, all extended family, friends and special friends Carol and Ron Craig and Bev and Frank Kostiuk.

Fran was born in 1924 on the Rooke farm outside Saltcoats, SK. She was one of the last of a generation of farm kids who went to school on horseback. Moving to Winnipeg, MB after high school, she began her career with the Great West Life Company. Concurrently she joined the parish and the choir of St. John’s Cathedral Anglican Church where she met Bob (who sang bass). Sparks flew across the choir stalls and Bob and Fran married on June 3, 1950

Family life began with the arrival of Lloyd in 1955 and Elaine in 1957 and Fran dedicated herself to being the best mom in the world. Always there with a smile, encouragement, a laugh or advice, she truly loved being a mother. A woman of broad interests, she also enjoyed gardening, oil painting, piano playing, games, needlework and especially her activities with her women’s groups. She had a life-long dedication to the church and her faith was ever present in her day-to-day life.

The family would like to thank the Grace Hospice staff and volunteers for the loving care she received during the last 20 months of her life, to her wonderful Oncologist, Dr. Pat Harris and special thanks to Dean Paul Johnson for his spiritual support and love. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John’s Cathedral, 135 Anderson Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2W 5M9, or to the Grace Hospice through the Grace Hospital Foundation, 300 Booth Drive, Winnipeg, MB R3J 3M7.

The funeral will take place at St. John’s Cathedral, with The Very Rev. Paul N. Johnson presiding, at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 28, with interment to follow in the Cathedral Churchyard.  A light lunch will be served in the John West Hall.

As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on June 25, 2014