Frances Johnston

Frances Johnston, known as Fran, Granny Franny, and Grandma Fran expired on October 17, at the age of 102. She was a longtime resident of Friendship Village of Dublin, and died peacefully there with assistance from NCR Hospice and FVD staff. Previously, she had resided in Marion, Ohio, for over 50 years.

She was born in 1921 to Orlo and Margaret Stevens in Erie, Pa. She married Marvin Johnston in 1943, and they were married for 72 years. They had one son, Steve, who had three daughters, Allison Cordle, Nancy Willis and Ellen Rodenberger. She had eight grandchildren who called her Granny Franny, and whose visits she treasured.

Her extended family of nieces and nephews are spread from Pennsylvania to Florida, South Carolina, Hawaii, Michigan, and Arizona. She kept in touch with them all through regular letters and cards. When her granddaughters went to college, she learned how to use email, too.

Franny was a prototypical post-war stay at home mom. She kept a clean house, cooked like an angel, entertained friends for cards and was active at Steve's school. She volunteered at the Red Cross, the local YMCA, and at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Marion, where she served on the Altar Guild faithfully. Her best known activity at church was her support for the annual bazaar , as she hand knit personalized Christmas stockings, with the proceeds being donated to the church. Over the years, she knitted 400 of these treasures!

Thanks to Alderwood Health Center at Friendship Village of Dublin, the doctors at Central Ohio Primary Care and NCR Hospice for their loving care of Fran.

A Celebration of her life will be held at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Dublin on October 28 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, she asked that donations in her memory be sent to St. Patrick's , or to Friendship Village of Dublin, Health Services Fund, 6000 Riverside Drive, Dublin, Ohio. 43017.