Frances O'Leary

1937 - 2007

She was a lovely woman. Her friends call her Frankie, and it fits.. She loved fun, she loved to laugh, she had a quick wit and a keen instinct for the essence of whatever was being discussed. Along with her husband Steve, she embodied the warmth and open heart that always characterized the O'Leary home. The tea would be on, soda bread would be on the counter. Once settled in, you would be treated exactly as if you belonged there. Frances and Steve had a core of lifelong friends characterized by loyalty and generosity. She found tremendous joy in her family. Her three daughters each have a unique and powerful bond with her, and she drew enormous strength from them during her battle with cancer. Much of her life was devoted to her love for her son Stephen, and he loves her back so much. Her three beloved grandchildren were a constant presence in the house and they learned about family from her.

Her family has often marveled at the courage it took a nineteen year old Frances to up and leave Ireland for Canada. All the more remarkable because Frances loved Ireland, loved her family back in Ireland and was most definitely an Irish girl. Steve chased her across the ocean and married her as soon as he could secure permission from the matriarch. Their love affair never ended. That courage was in evidence again as she fought the relentlessness of cancer for five hard years. Five years we are grateful for.

Frances died peacefully at her home surrounded by family and friends in the early hours of Tuesday, November 13, 2007. She is predeceased by her mother, Kathleen; her father, Jack; her stepfather, Pete: and her brothers, Seamus (Fiona and family) and Patsy. She will be so sadly missed and lovingly remembered by Steve, her husband of 50 years; her daughter Terrie and David Herle; her daughter Sandra and grandchildren Liam, Nate and Rachel; daughter Karen; son Stephen; sisters Mary (John and family), Kathleen (Owen and family), Evelyn (Maurice and family), Nora (Tom and family), Nancy (Sean and family, Terri and family; brother John (Chris and family).

Friends may call on Friday, November 16th, from 6-9 pm at the R.S. Kane Funeral Home (6150 Yonge Street, at Goulding, south of Steeles). Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church (670 Sheppard Avenue East), on Saturday, November 17 th, 2007 at 10 o'clock. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to the Reena Foundation - Helping People with Developmental Disabilities, which has been so instrumental with the care and love provided to her son Stephen