Frances Somers

Frances (Savage) Somers, 89, died Friday, August 15th, 2014 at her home in Fredericks burg, VA. Frances (Fran) leaves her children; daughter, Donna Fish, and husband, Kevin, of Woodbridge, VA; her son, Patrick Somers of Springfield, VA; her son John Somers and his wife, Susan, of Littleton, CO; her daughter, Kathy Somers and her partner, Marisa Co, of Princeton, NJ; her son, Michael Somers, and his wife, Caroline, of Stafford, VA; nine grandchildren, Erin (Rodger) Palko, Kristin (Eric) Allen , Kat Fish, Lindsey (Sean) Harding, Hannah Somers, Kerri Somers, Sean Somers, Francesca Somers, Juliana Somers; and five great-grandchildren, Scott, Landon, Matthew, Emilia and Isabel; siblings, Marie Witherell, Elizabeth Campbell, Nancy Coyle, Jim Savage and Robert Savage; sisters-in-law, Kate (John) Savage and Sue (Bob) Savage and many dear and close friends and family. Fran was preceded in death by her husband, Scott Somers, her siblings John Savage, Margaret Savage and Ellen (Savage) Wall and brothers-in-law, Tom (Marie) Witherell, Hank (Nancy) Coyle and Frank (Elizabeth) Campbell.

Fran was born on December 27th, 1924 to Kathryn and John Savage of Toledo, OH. Both were educators originating from upstate New York who moved to Toledo, Ohio to raise their family. Kathryn passed shortly after giving birth to their ninth child, leaving the duty of helping to raise their younger siblings to Fran and her older sister. All of the children worked at the family grocery store, Savage Market, where their family bonds were forever cemented.

Fran graduated from the Mercy Hospital nursing program and was immediately selected to become the head nurse of the men’s floor. It was during this time that Fran met Scott Somers, a young U.S. Army Air Corps pilot, and fell in love. Fran continued to excel as a nurse in Toledo while Scott completed his military service in Europe. Fran and Scott continued their relationship after Scott’s return, were married in Toledo and embarked on their adventure of more than 60 years. They raised five children rooted in Fran’s upbringing in the Catholic faith and her belief in a strong Irish family bond. They subsequently moved more than a dozen times across OH, PA and NY to support Scott’s career with Corning Glass Works. Through these moves Fran always found familiarity and strength within each new Catholic parish, often taking leadership roles within the Altar and Rosary Society or other ministries that provided for the unique needs of that church community. Given Fran’s strong devotion to Mary, it seems especially fitting that God called her to heaven on the Feast of the Assumption.

In 1983, Scott and Fran retired to Stafford, VA to be near their grandchildren. Although, not a move closer to her hometown of Toledo, Fran retained a close connection to her family and lifelong friends spanning primary school, her nursing career and the many other friendships made along the way.

The family will be receiving friends from 6pm to 9pm on Wednesday, August 20th at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Home in Stafford. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 21st at 11:30am at St. William of York Catholic Church in Stafford, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Fran's name to: Our Lady of Toledo Shrine, 655 South Coy Road, P.O. Box 167076, Oregon, OH 43616.