Frances Joan Lukasik

Born Frances Siarniak on January 3, 1932, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she was part of a loving Polish-American family. She was the third of five siblings, none of whom are still living. Her father was a dedicated police officer, while her mother raised the family.

Frances graduated from West Scranton High School in 1948 at the age of 16. She then worked for several years in the offices of the Giant Food Store chain. In 1955, at age 23, she married Joseph Lukasik, a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot from a nearby town.

Together, they embarked on an adventurous life in the Air Force, moving across the globe. They started in France, where their son Bruce was born, then to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where she welcomed son Eric and daughter Mary Lynn, and then on to England for the birth of daughter Clare, and finally to California for son Mark. Their journey continued with relocations to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and later to Germany.

Tragically, in 1973, while living in Germany, Frances lost Joe when he died in a plane accident in Turkey, and she became a widow with five young children. After a brief return to Pennsylvania, she relocated to Arizona to be closer to her Air Force family, ultimately settling in Litchfield Park, where she spent the next fifty-one years. Her love for her children was unwavering, and this decision proved favorable, as all five of her children graduated from college, with four achieving advanced degrees, including two at the doctoral level.

Determined to further her own education, Frances earned an associate’s degree in library science from Glendale Community College. This led to a fulfilling career at the Luke Air Force Base library, from which she retired at age 70.

Frances had a passion for cooking; she could spend hours watching cooking shows and reading recipes. She was also an avid fan of mystery stories, both in books and on television, particularly those set in England, which held a special place in her heart from her time there. A lover of music, Frances possessed a beautiful speaking and singing voice and participated in choirs and choral groups throughout her life, including the choir at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

Frances, admired for her elegance and grace, displayed remarkable emotional resilience. Her strength in the face of adversity is a source of inspiration for all who knew her. She will be deeply missed by her five children, eight grandchildren, and cherished friends.

In accordance with her wishes, Frances was cremated, and her ashes will be interred alongside her husband Joseph at the Arlington National Cemetery.

She is survived by her five children: Bruce Lukasik and Eric Lukasik, both of Litchfield Park, Arizona; Mary Lynn (Mike) Lukasik Mosig of Redondo Beach, California; Clare (Chris) Lukasik Eisenberg of Sherman Oaks, California; and Mark (Meghan) Lukasik of Chula Vista, California.

A funeral mass for Frances will be held Friday, October 4, 2024 at 9:45 AM at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 13720 W Thomas Road, Avondale, Arizona 85392.