Frances Joeschke, age 93, passed away peacefully October 2, 2020 in Austin, Texas. She was born December 17, 1926 in Northbridge, Massachusetts to James and Rose Blair, one of eleven children. She married her longtime friend and neighbor, Rolf H. Joeschke, Lieutenant U. S. Navy, on September16, 1950, who preceded her in death in 1952. Together they had one daughter, Karen, who she raised alone. She was a wonderful, caring, funny and fun mother who would drop everything at a moment’s notice to take off to Cape Cod, Maine, and various other places special to them.
Frances loved to garden, read, take long walks and shop with her sister Rose. She set a wonderful example for her daughter, Karen, by taking her to church every Sunday at Rockdale Congregational Church, where she was a faithful member for the majority of her life. For many years she served as a volunteer at the Whitinsville Food Pantry. She especially loved being a grandmother to her 4 grandchildren, providing them with a special vacation every summer at her sister Minnie’s lake house at Webster Lake. Her Texas grandchildren have many wonderful memories of their summers there. She was truly the best mother, sister, grandmother and friend to many.
Frances enrolled in the nurses training program at Providence Hospital in Holyoke, Massachusetts after graduating from Northbridge High School in 1944. As a young widow and single mom, she became the school nurse for the Northbridge schools. “Nurse Joeschke” loved taking care of the students, and they in turn loved her. She retired in 1986 after more than 30 years on the job.
Frances is survived by her daughter Karen and her husband Roger Farrar of Austin, Texas; grandchildren Emily Schulz, Kathryn Rouse, Daniel Farrar and Elizabeth Guess and 13 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Louise Roy, brother and wife Donald and Phyllis Blair, and sister-in-law Lucille Blair. She was preceded in death by her much loved brothers and sisters; James Blair Jr, Robert Blair, Earl Blair, John Blair, William Blair, Rose Frieswyk, Marilyn Boyd, and Barbara Smyth.
She will be buried in Riverdale Cemetery in Northbridge near her lifelong home in Riverdale. There will be a graveside memorial gathering of family in the spring of 2021.
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