Frances M. Davis

Frances M. Davis, age 100, passed away on June 21, 2023 in Wheaton, IL. Beloved mother of Denise Davis; Misette Kobler and Kenton Davis (Susan Wallis) and mother-in-law of Donna Davis. Cherished grandmother of Elizabeth Davis; Jennifer Davis; Kelsey Martinez (Ventura); Samantha “Maggie” Davis; Kyle Davis; Ryan Kobler and Sam Attwood. Loving “Great Mother” of Alex Manos; Ruby Martinez; and Violet Martinez. Lifelong best friend of June Chapek. Frances was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Russell Davis; eldest son, Gregory Davis; sons-in-law James Wilson and Paul Kobler and loving companion, Maurice Manzoeillo.

Frances was born at home in Jacksonville, Illinois on May 26, 1923. At a young age, she and her mother moved to Chicago to be closer to her maternal grandparents, aunts and uncle. Frances had fond memories of spending summers as a child with her paternal grandparents in Casper (Glenrock), Wyoming. During high school, she loved learning to type fast and accurately on a manual Underwood typewriter. After graduation, she enjoyed several secretarial and office positions. As a young adult, she met her husband, Russell, at the Second Baptist Church in Chicago, where she later served as church secretary while he served in the Pacific during WWII. Later, when her children were in elementary school, she returned to office work in the insurance and travel industries, which she loved, until she retired. Frances was detail-oriented, extremely organized and known to leave notes and lists about the house that were written in Gregg shorthand (which sometimes frustrated her children who could not read them!). She enjoyed music, could play hymns on the piano, and tirelessly facilitated piano, wind instrument and guitar lessons as well as choir rehearsals for her children, ensuring daily practice. Frances had a strong personal faith as well as a belief in serving and taking care of others. She was active for many years in the Chicagoland Civic Club, a philanthropic organization in the Berwyn/Cicero area, and served as a choir mom at Warren Park Presbyterian Church in Cicero, as well as a band/orchestra parent in Berwyn’s District 100. Annually, the back porch of her home was filled with fruitcakes and chocolate bars and chocolate-covered almonds as she volunteered to be distribution chairperson for various fundraisers. Frances was a generous and giving person, who frequently opened her home to extended family members and friends who simply “needed a place to be.” She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and friends and had many “adopted” children whom she loved and claimed as her own. Frances was enchanted with butterflies, and was particularly fond of the colorful monarch species.

Arrangements are being handled by Chapel Hills Gardens West Funeral Home in Oakbrook Terrace, IL and a Celebration of Life Service will be announced at a later date. Donations in memory of Frances may be made to the DuPage Care Center Foundation, 400 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 or to the North American Butterfly Association, naba.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ChapelHillGardensWest.com for the Davis family.