Frances Darroch Fleming

She was a resident of the Memory Care “neighborhood” at Sunrise Grosse Pointe Woods. Her care there was beyond our highest hopes and we will always be so grateful for every person who shepherded her through her last years on this earth.

With genuine red hair to her last day, she was the embodiment of a “Proverbs 31” woman who lived to serve: her husband of 56 years,

Robert Stewart Fleming, and her 2 children, Ann Grace Fleming (Christian A. ) Fenton of Grosse Pointe Woods and Stewart White (Susan Decker)Fleming of Ann Arbor.

A child of Scottish immigrant parents Martha Moore and Richard Darroch White, she was born on July 31, 1929 on Crane Ave. on the lower east side of Detroit. She was Baptized at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian, just around the corner; her family moved on to live on Maryland Ave. in Detroit.

Frances attended Clark Elementary School, Jackson Intermediate, Southeastern High School, and the Detroit Institute of Technology.

Her first job was for Awrey Bakery; she went on to work for the Budd Company and the Grosse Pointe Public School System.

She began to attend Knox Presbyterian Church at Mack Ave. and Dickerson in 1947 and continued to attend and serve when the church relocated to Harrison Township. Profound dementia made it impossible for her to attend in 2017.

Frances was a member of the Knox Chancel Choir Soprano section from 1948 until 2001. She belonged to the Windmill Pointe Garden Club and the Knox Garden Brigade. She was a member of Gowanie Golf Club along with her husband Stewart, and while she was perhaps a better golfer than he was, she would never have said it!

She was an election worker; an excellent seamstress, she made her own clothing and her daughter’s. She knit complicated sweaters, even during Ladies Day Tiger games with her children. Her painting skills were a ‘window to her heart’. She travelled the world with her husband, and enjoyed 60 years at Glen Lake MI.

Frances was steady, creative, happy, frugal, dignified, light-hearted and the “soul of responsibility”.

She is predeceased by her parents, her husband and her only sister Ann Graham White Farley.

Her 7 grandchildren, Lauren Hope Fenton (David) Hesano, Christian “CJ” Stewart Fenton, Ian Lathrop Fenton, Colin Alec (Susan Scholten) Fenton; Emily Elizabeth Fleming Rogers, Elizabeth White Fleming (Scott) Serilla, and Martha Mary Fleming (Michael) Roorda called her “Soonie” and have never known life without her.

Frances had 14 great grandchildren, now in birth order: Lily Grace Hesano, Neva Rae Rogers, Elsie Cynthia Fenton, Ella Madeline Hesano, Malina Riley Fenton, Calvin Stewart Fenton, Patrick Christian Hesano, Wallace Graham Serilla, Eira Jean Rogers, Zadie White Serilla, Jack Allan Fenton, Isla Frances Roorda, Sydney Joy Fenton and Esme Elizabeth Roorda. To God be the Glory!

A service of thanksgiving to God for Frances’ life will be held on

16 September 2023, at the Peters Funeral Home, Grosse Pointe Woods MI. Visitation will be from 9:30—11AM, with the service beginning at 11AM.

Memorial Gifts should be directed to Chris and Rebecca Hirt. Both serve to support Bible Translation in SE Asia. Chris, age 42, was diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma late in the Spring and had to transition to Grand Rapids MI quickly with his family so that he might get treatment. Their costs are great but God is Greater! Donations can be made online https://www.wycliffe.org/partner/hirt5 or by check:

Wycliffe Bible Translators

P.O. Box 628200

Orlando, FL 32862

Please include a note "preference for the Wycliffe ministry of Chris and Rebecca Hirt # 284575 "

This link is provided to learn more of their ministry and their family.

https://hirtfamily.net/partner/