Ellen M. Franz, 95

Ellen M. Franz, age 95, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.

Mrs. Franz is survived by her brothers-in law, Leo Bernard of Mexico City, Mexico; Leonard (Lorita) of Wichita, Kan.; and Maurice (Martha) of Washington, Ill.; and by nine children: Karen Franz-Cohen (Jeffrey Cohen) of St. Louis, Mo.; Denise Franz King of Dublin, Ohio; Stephen (Pamela) of Metairie, La.; Patrick (Michelle) of Portland, Ore.; Paul (Beth) of Post Falls, Idaho; Mary Franz Conrath of Bayview, Idaho; Basil (Laura) of San Antonio, Texas; Louis (Cheryl Cesarz Layne) of Lake Oswego, Ore.; and Elaine (Paul Sykes) of Portland, Ore. Ellen’s life is also celebrated by 25 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Ellen Louise Meehan was born on Dec. 13, 1925, in Oak Park, Ill., and grew up in Villa Park, Ill., where her parents Louis F. and Florence (Rank) Meehan owned a pharmacy. Her sisters were Elizabeth and Dorothy (Born). After graduating from Catholic grade and high schools, Ellen received her RN with a BS in Nursing from St. Xavier College in Chicago, Ill. During WWII she served as a cadet nurse.

At a USO dance, she met Eugene Leo Franz, while he was training to be a Navy pilot. They married in 1949 at Sacred Heart Church in Ness City, Kan. The couple relocated to Coronado, Calif., where two daughters were born. In August 1951, LTJG Eugene Leo Franz was declared MIA in Korea. Ellen raised their children and worked as a school nurse. In 1954 the Navy declared Eugene Franz KIA.

In 1955 she married Eugene’s brother, Gerald J Franz, an acoustical physicist, and continued to be a loving wife, mother and member of the Franz family. After a move to Kensington, Md., she became an involved member of her parish, Holy Redeemer. Motivated by the death of their one-year-old son Phillip Gerald, she volunteered for the March of Dimes and raised funds for children with serious medical problems.

Mrs. Franz was active in her communities in Coronado, Calif., Kensington, Md., and in Bayview, Idaho, chairing numerous committees including as an elected member of the Bayview Fire Protection District. After the death of her husband Gerald Franz in 1986 fighting the Bayview marina fire, Ellen became a Master Gardner. She gave many talks on growing herbs and medicinal plants in North Idaho. She was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and for many years provided flower arrangements for Sunday mass. All who knew Ellen Franz will remember her advice to “Never give up and always say your prayers.”

A funeral mass will take place at 2 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 32919 N. Highway 42, Spirit Lake, ID 83869, followed by burial at Spirit Lake Cemetery. Messages for the online family guestbook can be left at yatesfuneralhomes.com.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the final arrangements.