Franziska (Frances) Schulze Vann

FORT WORTH -- Franziska (Frances) Schulze Vann, slipped away gently into eternity on the afternoon of January 9, 2016. Her children were by her side, with her son Robert holding her hand. Funeral: 10:30am Friday at Shannon Rose Hill Funeral Chapel. Burial: Shannon Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, you may consider a donation to any charity for the relief of suffering. She was born in 1921 in Victoria, to Albert and Franziska Schulze.

In 1943, she joined the U.S. Army as a WAAC/WAC. She was assigned to the motor pool. Her native language was German and she received a commendation for translating for German prisoners of war. After the war, she was employed by the Morton Salt Company. In 1953, she married Joseph Harold Vann who brought four sons to the marriage. They then had two more children together. Their marriage lasted 50 years until his passing in 2003. In 1958, she started working at Texas Electric Service Company in plant accounting, retiring in 1986. She was always loyal and grateful to TESCO for giving her work at a time when it was not easy for a woman to get such a job.

By 1963 our family included her oldest sister who had been blind since a young age. Her tender heart also ensured that forsaken and hungry cats and dogs found their forever home with us. After her husbands cancer surgery he became quite disabled. She and Robert gave themselves completely to his care for years. She was the soul of kindness, patience, mercy, fortitude, generosity, selflessness and forgiveness. Though her life was one of hard work and later much physical pain, she never lost these qualities. Never putting herself first, her concern was always for others, trying to find ways to help and trying to make others laugh. She had the sweetest and most radiant smile and even in the midst of pain would flash it at those around her. Just being near her made you want to strive to be a better person. For us the world can never be the same. How can one survive the loss of such a mother? Only by trusting God and the knowledge that this separation is temporary and that a much anticipated reunion is in store. We give thanks to God for lending her to us. She made our hearts more tender and more open to all. We are grateful for the love and support of her church family and to all the medical professionals who helped her during the last few years. We thank Vitas Hospice for their invaluable resources and support. Our gratitude to John Moore is beyond words for his dedication to her care in the final months.

Her survivors include, daughter Linda Vann and partner John Moore, sons, Robert Vann and wife Carla, David Vann and wife Isabella, Joe Vann and wife Laurie and Charles Vann; ten grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Those that went before her include her siblings, her husband, a son Danny and two grandchildren.