Frances M. Sides

Frances Diane McBain Sides passed away on December 23rd, 2024, surrounded by family at Halifax Health Hospice-Ormond Beach, after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born on August 25, 1934, in Normalville, PA, to Ruby Hall and James Irvine McBain, their only child. She obtained a three-year Nursing Diploma from the University of Maryland to become a Registered Nurse after graduating from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD. In 1956, she married Elwood B. Sides, Jr., and remained faithfully married for over 57 years until his passing. Fran worked as the Nursing Supervisor of the 3PM – 11PM shift at the Children’s Hospital in Baltimore, MD, until she had children of her own. In 1973, they moved their young family to New Smyrna Beach, FL.

She actively raised her three children supporting them in various civic and sporting activities while being the Chief Financial Officer of Sides Cars & Trucks. She also found time to give back to the community by being a Teacher’s Aide at Read-Pattillo Elementary School, a vanguard at First NSB Church, a volunteer at the Pregnancy Crisis Center, and establishing the Sides Family Community Service Scholarship through NSB CAPS to annually benefit a worthy graduating senior from New Smyrna Beach High School.

She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who was a voracious reader, had a tremendous vocabulary and loved to travel. She is survived by her three children, Diane O’Dwyer (Kevin) of Ormond Beach, FL, Jo Canova (Jay) of Bumpass, VA, and Woody Sides (Robert Wallace) of Long Beach, CA; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.