Our precious mother, Claire Dorothy Franz, 92, died on March 3, 2023 peacefully in her sleep. She was born on May 11, 1930, in Queens, New York. After high school, she worked as administrative assistant for Jefferson Chemical in the Empire State Building. She always talked fondly of how much fun she had with her friends in “the city”.
She married Gordon Franz in 1955 who was an Officer in the US Air Force. She spent the next 20 years of her life traveling and re-locating to multiple air force bases in the United States and in Turkey. Both of her boys were born during this time so her focus was on raising them and providing love and stability while Gordon was on active duty. She embraced her role as an Officers wife and even was President of the Officers Wives Club for two years. As much as she loved the military life, she was thrilled when they were able to finally settle at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, La. She loved being a homemaker and raising her two boys, attending countless sporting events to watch them play. She was a devout Catholic and active member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Shreveport, until she moved to Texas in 2014 to be near her sons and grandchildren.
She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother who loved fiercely and found so much joy in her family. She will be missed but we are so thankful she is at peace and reunited with her husband, Gordon, her brother and sister in law(Jack and Joan Meegan), her sister, Dorothy and her nephew, Jackie Meegan.
She is survived by her sons, Mike(Clara) of McKinney, TX and Pat(Becky) Plano, TX. Her grandchildren, Luke Franz(Logan) and Shelby Franz Robbins(Travis) and great grandson, Bishop and multiple niece’s and nephews in New York.
She asked that no one cry tears of sadness for her but rejoice in knowing that she is in heaven and said on more than one occasion, “just have a drink and a laugh when thinking about me.”
Please join us for her funeral mass on Tuesday, March 7th at 9:30am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Formation Center chapel, 3100 West Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas 75023 (Faith Formation Center).
Following the funeral mass, we will take her to Louisiana be buried next to her beloved Gordon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation to The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton new building fund at setonparish.org. St. Elizabeth was special to Claire as she saw her grandchildren’s first communions and confirmations, her granddaughters wedding and spent multiple Christmas Eve Masses.