Fran has lived a very colorful life having entered a convent at the age of 17, served in the United States Air Force, and enjoyed a successful career as an editor for publications in Alaska where she lived for 55 years.
While a nun, Fran taught in parochial elementary schools in Ohio and Minnesota until she left the convent when she was 25. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, she enlisted in the Air Force where she was sent to Washington State University to earn a degree in journalism.
Fran took her journalism degree to the University of Alaska after being discharged from service. There she worked as an editor for the “Alaska Sea Grant,” a publication funded by the federal government to encourage research in various aspects of the sea for the commercial fishing industry. She used her teaching experience as the editor of “Tide Lines” a publication for junior high schools in the state.
Fran also worked in marketing before becoming the editor of the “Alaska Geological and Geophysical Survey” magazine until she retired.
It was in academia at the University of Alaska where Fran met her husband Neal and they raised a blended family of five children. For many years, she and Neal traveled to the area near The Woodlands to visit a daughter and grandchildren in nearby Vermont and their daughter at Dartmouth College. They became familiar with what the community and the area had to offer.
“Our must-haves for a retirement community were that it be pet-friendly for our dog Molly and have a pool and hot tub. In Alaska, I had to drive ten miles in each direction to use a pool. At The Woodlands I just walk down the hall!” Fran says.
Fran also likes the fact that most of the activities at The Woodlands are resident-driven. She is joining the library committee to get more involved. She takes Molly for several walks a day on the beautifully maintained campus and nearby nature trails, and she enjoys playing board games and singing with the community choir. To relax she swims and soaks in the hot tub a few times a week and spends time with the close friends she has made in the community.
“The Woodlands has such a family-like culture and everyone here is so friendly and caring. It’s a wonderful place to retire,” Fran says.
