1946
Frances
2017
Frances Howell
October 25, 1946 — September 22, 2017
Frances (Fran) Irene Howell, 70, of Concord, passed away Friday, September 22, 2017 at Hospice Home of High Point, NC.
Fran was born October 25, 1946 in Ontario, Canada, to the late Peter Gordon and Vera Frances McIntosh, and raised in up-state New York. She moved to NC in 1968 with her husband and daughter, she had her son in 1969, and raised her family in Charlotte.
In the mid 70's she began an her financial career at NCNB (now Bank of America). Through dedication and passion for the financial brokerage industry, she made many friends and advanced in her career. After 25 years with several institutions, Interstate Johnson Lane, First Union and Wachovia, she retired as a Vice President with Wells Fargo. This success did not come easily for Fran. As a divorced parent, with two young children, she knew the value of education. Initially she worked as a waitress and attended night classes at CPCC. She always worked hard and strived to provide a college education for her children. Due to the help she received at integral points in her single parenting years, she always desired to give back to others and believed everyone deserves another chance.
Fran loved spending time at her home on her screened in porch watching the birds. She treasured being the "gathering place" and welcomed anyone to enjoy a Pepsi, have a snack, (M&M and Reese's) watch a Carolina Panthers game and hear the latest adventures of her grandchildren. She decorated for EVERY holiday and would help you decorate too. Everyone she knew had a plastic canvas decoration she had made at some point. She was lovingly referred to as Granny Frannie by the neighborhood children and she never met a stranger.
Fran endured multiple health issues over the years but her cardiac disease progressed significantly during this last year. In December 2016, she reluctantly gave up the home and neighbors she treasured in Concord to move closer to her daughter in an assisted living facility in Greensboro. Despite her reservations, she made many friends with staff and residents and came to be known as one of the "Golden Girls" within her group. She even taught classes in needlepoint, again sharing her knowledge with others. Her small patio looked like a bird store but she was the talk of the facility and once again, she had the gathering place.
Memorial services will be on Saturday, September 30 at 11 a.m. at Hartsell Funeral Home Chapel, 12115 University City Blvd., Harrisburg, NC 28075 and will be officiated by Rev. Tim Newton. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.
Fran is survived by daughter, Sally (Jeff) Yeakley of Browns Summit, NC; son, Danny (Aminta) St.Onge of Charlotte, NC; brother, Doug (Sheila) McIntosh; grandchildren, Jordan and Laura Yeakley; Elena, Anna and Danielle St.Onge; nieces, Jessica (Michael) Butler, great-nephew, Jerren; and Jennifer and Melanie McIntosh.
Memorials may be made to William Lewis Pope Memorial Scholarship Fund, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, PO Box 571021, Winston Salem, NC 27157-1021 and Kreitzer Critter Corral Puppy Rescue, PO Box 1571, Harrisburg, NC 28075.
Hartsell Funeral Home of Harrisburg is serving the Howell family.
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