“ Frances Mary French (nee LaBine) *July 25, 1929 - February 22, 2008. Frannie slipped away peacefully into the early morning light on the shores of her beloved Georgian Bay. In death, in life and always, she was surrounded by her family and will forever be remembered by every soul she touched. Born in Haileybury, Ontario, to Gilbert and Blanche LaBine, Frannie was one of seven children. Cherished sister to Leonard, Joseph, Lillian (Maloney), Helen (Chisholm), Margie (Beaudry) and Patsy (Egan). Lorretto Abbey, the violin, the family farm, the Eaton’s Fashion Council, a ship’s sail across the Atlantic and a young hockey player all defined a young Frannie. At sea, returning from a pilgrimmage to the Vatican she wrote of being embraced by her church and enthralled by her Paddie, with whom Frannie spent 57 years as a wife and mother to their five children: Michael (Colette), Paul, Paddy (Karen), Mary Fran (Brian Anderson) and Christopher (Cathy). She was an endearing grandmother to Britt, Emma, Claire, Andrew and Thomas. Frannie’s married life began in Baie-Saint-Paul where Paddie, an engineer, built a dock in the St. Lawrence. From Quebec to Ontario, and in 1959 to Alberta, and the Rockies where he built the Rogers Pass, Frannie raised her family in Edmonton, skiing in the river valley, skating and golfing in Mayfair Park, and exploring the Rocky Mountains. Edmonton was good to Frannie. She reciprocated by devoting herself to the needs of others at St. John’s Parish, St. Joseph’s Basilica, the Catholic Women’s League, and 36 fulfilling years as a volunteer with the Cross Cancer Institute. In 2000, Frannie and Paddie moved to Georgian Bay and a little house she had known as a girl. The nature she so loved surrounded her. Her brother, sisters and children always close by. Her failing memory protected by her husband who never lost faith or trust in her ability to love him. Always elegant in word and deed, Frannie loved and will be missed by many, especially the gentle souls she shared her final days with at Hillcrest Village in Midland. For the kindness to their mother, the French children are forever indebted. Arrangements entrusted to the Penetang Funeral Home 705-549-3155. The Visitation and the Funeral Mass will be held at St. Florence Chapel, Thunder Beach. Visitation is Wednesday, March 5, 2:00 to 5:00 pm. The Funeral Mass is Thursday, March 6, 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception at the church hall, Paroisse Ste-Croix, Lafontaine. Also on Thursday, March 6, a Mass will be held in Frannie’s memory at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton. Interment will follow in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, or to the Catholic charity ShareLife.
Published in the Edmonton Journal on 2/28/2008. “7477

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George Chisholm

“ Frances Mary French (nee LaBine) *July 25, 1929 - February 22, 2008. Frannie slipped away peacefully into the early morning light on the shores of her beloved Georgian Bay. In death, in life and always, she was surrounded by her family and will forever be remembered by every soul she touched. Born in Haileybury, Ontario, to Gilbert and Blanche LaBine, Frannie was one of seven children. Cherished sister to Leonard, Joseph, Lillian (Maloney), Helen (Chisholm), Margie (Beaudry) and Patsy (Egan). Lorretto Abbey, the violin, the family farm, the Eaton’s Fashion Council, a ship’s sail across the Atlantic and a young hockey player all defined a young Frannie. At sea, returning from a pilgrimmage to the Vatican she wrote of being embraced by her church and enthralled by her Paddie, with whom Frannie spent 57 years as a wife and mother to their five children: Michael (Colette), Paul, Paddy (Karen), Mary Fran (Brian Anderson) and Christopher (Cathy). She was an endearing grandmother to Britt, Emma, Claire, Andrew and Thomas. Frannie’s married life began in Baie-Saint-Paul where Paddie, an engineer, built a dock in the St. Lawrence. From Quebec to Ontario, and in 1959 to Alberta, and the Rockies where he built the Rogers Pass, Frannie raised her family in Edmonton, skiing in the river valley, skating and golfing in Mayfair Park, and exploring the Rocky Mountains. Edmonton was good to Frannie. She reciprocated by devoting herself to the needs of others at St. John’s Parish, St. Joseph’s Basilica, the Catholic Women’s League, and 36 fulfilling years as a volunteer with the Cross Cancer Institute. In 2000, Frannie and Paddie moved to Georgian Bay and a little house she had known as a girl. The nature she so loved surrounded her. Her brother, sisters and children always close by. Her failing memory protected by her husband who never lost faith or trust in her ability to love him. Always elegant in word and deed, Frannie loved and will be missed by many, especially the gentle souls she shared her final days with at Hillcrest Village in Midland. For the kindness to their mother, the French children are forever indebted. Arrangements entrusted to the Penetang Funeral Home 705-549-3155. The Visitation and the Funeral Mass will be held at St. Florence Chapel, Thunder Beach. Visitation is Wednesday, March 5, 2:00 to 5:00 pm. The Funeral Mass is Thursday, March 6, 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception at the church hall, Paroisse Ste-Croix, Lafontaine. Also on Thursday, March 6, a Mass will be held in Frannie’s memory at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton. Interment will follow in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, or to the Catholic charity ShareLife.
Published in the Edmonton Journal on 2/28/2008. “7477

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Helen Labine
Helen LaBine
Helen (Chisholm) LaBine