Frances Waldie Dodge passed away peacefully at the Dunrovin Hospice House on October 25, 2010 after an almost 3 year battle with cancer.
Fran was born on May 22, 1932 in Ladysmith BC where she excelled at school. She and her twin sister, Florence were inseparable until a tragic bicycle accident took Florence in 1943. After high school graduation where Fran was the winner of the Lions Club award for outstanding girl graduate, she attended St. Mary’s School and graduated in the commercial program in 1951. From there, she attended the Victoria Normal School where she obtained her teaching certificate. Her initial teaching position was in Lytton BC where she met her husband Alex whom she married in 1955. Daughter Debbie and sons Mark and Steve were born in New Westminster in 1955, 57 and 59 as Alex and Fran lived in places like Furry Creek, Lake Cowichan and Boston Bar. In 1964, while living in Savona, where Alex worked for Westcoast Transmission, daughter Catherine was born. Soon after that the family of 6 moved to Johnston Sub in Quesnel where they remained until 1975, when Fran and Alex and the 2 youngest children moved to Willow Flats near Chetwynd. Another transfer in 1982 found them in Fort St John where they stayed until 1987 when they moved back to Australian (south of Quesnel) and then back to Johnston Sub for good when Alex retired in 1990. During these years they managed to escape the cold winters on a regular basis to join friends on vacation in Hawaii and Las Vegas.
After retirement, Fran and Alex spent many years enjoying their cabin at McLeese Lake and travelling to the south of Spain, the UK, eastern Canada and Alaska. They were avid gardeners, curlers and Legion volunteers and also enjoyed their charter membership in the Cariboo’s table of knowledge. Following Alex’s death in 2007 Fran continued to volunteer with the Hospital Auxiliary and joined her friends “The Coffee Ladies” most Friday mornings. Fran was diagnosed with cancer early in 2008, but having been raised by parents of Scottish ancestry, she rarely complained of any discomfort caused by her surgeries and subsequent treatments.
Fran was predeceased by her twin sister Florence, her mother Minnetta and father John. She is survived by her daughter Debbie (Cy) Bryant of Hope, son Mark (Kathy Sutton) of Fort St. John, son Steve (Alison) of Quesnel and daughter Catherine (Andy) Thomson of Ladysmith, grandchildren Sarah Bryant, Jacy (Keri), Joslyn, Joelon (Chantelle) Dodge, Michael and Nicole Dodge and David, Christine and Adam Young. She is also survived by great grandchildren Dominique, Tristan and Brooke Dodge, Hailey and Camryn Folk, and Liam Dodge.
A celebration of life and Tea will be held at the Legion Hall at 1 PM on November 12. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Quesnel Palliative Care Association. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Dunrovin Hospice house especially Crystal, AnnaMarie, Monica and Margaret as well as the home care nursing staff, especially Colleen. A very special thank you to Winnie Gale and Joanne Marsh who were her friends for 45 years and who were there when she needed them most.