"I still remember Aunt Frances telling me the story about when I was just an infant, and was living in Grandma and Poppy's front bedroom, how she used to come over every night and kiss me on the bottoms of my feet. She said it always made my smile and giggle. She was a free spirit and now will be at home with Grandma and Poppy as well as all of the other family that has preceded her in death. My love to you always Aunt Frances. Love, Little Sue."
In loving memory of
Frances Elizabeth Howe
April 5, 1947 - May 11, 2012
Frances Elizabeth Howe was born in Jesup, Georgia on April 5, 1947 to two loving parents, Herman and Inez Howe. In 1954 her and the rest of the family moved down to Hialeah, Florida, and there she remained most of her life, except a short spurt in Coconut Grove in her twenties, where she lived in a more Bohemian style, which suited her.
Frances went to Hialeah High School, and studied Fine Arts at Miami-Dade College and Florida International University. Frances had a sharp mind and was a member of MENSA. As a young woman Frances worked as a waitress at the old Lums in Coconut Grove and The Chesapeake. She later found a lifelong and stable career as a secretary in the Miami-Dade Public School System. Frances was a member of Sunset Heights Baptist Church and then North Hialeah Baptist Church in Hialeah all of her life.
Frances was an avid reader, loved Jesus, the beach, good food, music, coffee, crossword puzzles and enjoyed a good nap. Her favorite band was the Moody Blues and she like mushrooms on her pizza. It was beautiful to see her laugh. It was infectious. Her granddaughters gave her the most joy, however. Hennessy and Tabitha were the light in her eyes.
Frances will be sadly missed by her three sisters, Barbara Howe, Patsy Dispoto, and Susan Sweeney; her two daughters, Lisa Howe and Esther Howe; her two very loving and devoted granddaughters, Hennessy and Tabitha; as well as her nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was taken away from us too young, but it is a blessing she will no longer suffer from the ravages of ALS.
Tributes
"I still remember Aunt Frances telling me the story about when I was just an infant, and was living in Grandma and Poppy's front bedroom, how she used to come over every night and kiss me on the bottoms of my feet. She said it always made my smile and giggle. She was a free spirit and now will be at home with Grandma and Poppy as well as all of the other family that has preceded her in death. My love to you always Aunt Frances. Love, Little Sue."
"Frances, I know you are not suffering now. I love you and will miss you."
"I will always be her "Doodle Bug", and when it's time to go to sleep, it's "Time to Go to Sleepy Time Town", as she would tell me when I was little! I miss her so much, and always will for as long as I live. Hennessy, Tabitha, and I Love You so much MOM."
"Living in California as a child I was not able to see my Aunt as much as I would have liked to. We visited one summer when I was 10 years old. It was a blast! I think it was Lisa's first birthday party too!
My Aunt was extremely intelligent like both of her beautiful daughters. I remember her teaching me yoga poses (before yoga was cool) and listening to Van Morrison songs! She was so beautiful.
Later that day she took me to a local store to buy me a little purse and wallet. It was very sweet. BUT, there was something very special she gave me that I still have today. It was a small broach that said Jesus on it. Dangling below was a small plastic triangle containing a "mustard seed" She then told me what it meant. I still have it today!!!!
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches."Matthew 13:31-32" What a wonderful verse !! I love you Aunt Frances,
Your niece,
Rosemarie Angela "
"There are so many memories. They just keep popping into my head. I may have to make several posts as they come to me. To begin, when I was very young, I loved to play outside with her. She would laugh when she remembered the way I always screamed, "Let's Run!!!!" I think I may have been an exhausting child, but she humored me most of the time. She also took me to Crandon Park beach almost every weekend in 'our' blue Chevy Nova, blaring Elton John and Kiki Dee on the radio. She took me and Dawn (unwillingly, as I remember) to my first rock concert, Rush. We had terrible seats, but it was so exciting. Especially the tear gas in the parking lot before the concert. Do you think most parents of a twelve-year-old would have gone home after that? Well we marched on, and survived the concert. After that, there was a whole list of concerts she would take me and my friends to before I could drive... all the way out to the Hollywood Sportatorium. What a blast. I'm glad I shared those things with my Mom. It was hard to watch her suffer with the debilitations of the ALS. I am glad she is no longer suffering, and is in a beautiful place. I will miss her."
"She will always be in my heart. The girls and I miss her greatly, and love her so much. I will always remember her intelligence, and how she would do anythimg for us."