Frances Marie Shoemake

Frances M. Shoemake, age 56 of Warren, died Thursday, February 13, 2014 at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, Macomb Center in Warren. She was born on December 22, 1957 in Detroit, daughter of the late Stanley Sr. and the late Josephine (nee: Lukatch) Kania.Amidst the care and love Frances exuded as a wife, mother and grandmother, she possessed a passion that could only be realized outside of the home,…a love and desire to travel. And the good thing is,…she was always in great company. You see, though Frances could manage the local streets just fine, she was adamant about staying off the freeway. So in order for her travel desires to be met, others were drawn into the mix. Most often, it was her beloved Edward that would man the wheel and whisk her off to the many scenic venues that filled their travel portfolio. Following Edward's passing, the gauntlet got passed to her sister, Marjorie,…and Marjorie's husband, Mickey,…who just happens to be Edward's brother. The sibling's have enjoyed a host of wonderful experiences in their travels together, many of which were to visit their sister, Merry in Kentucky.Another of Frances' pastimes was enjoyed in her love of flower gardening. Possessing a green thumb and an eye for beauty, her yard was always adorned with a host of different floral varieties,…many of which were spawned from the seeds of flowers strewn throughout the states she visited in her travels. When she saw a flower she liked, she'd somehow manage to extract some of its seeds and carry them home to plant. So that made her garden not only a thing of beauty, but a national representation as well.And Frances' thumb wasn't the only thing green associated with her,...so was her treasured frog collection. She held a special passion for all things frog related, and her home was filled with frogs from stem to stern. From the collectibles she found on her own to the many gifted frogs that adorned her "Kermit Kastle,"...her home was truly "Frog Heaven." While on the topic of Frances' collectibles, this reflection would be sadly remiss if not to mention her cherished cadre of shot glasses,...a collection that was accrued from the myriad of places, both near and far, that she visited in her travels. All shapes and sizes, and each unique in its design, her shot glasses were more than merely a display of drinking vessels,...they were a warm reminder of the memories made from the origin of each shot glass. Then there was her Casino Cavorting pleasures. With gambling venues galore for her to choose from, Frances was a frequent visitor to many of the gaming palaces throughout the state and points beyond. She was the Queen of the "One-Armed Bandits,"…specifically the quarter slots. Not being sure of what her total physical health picture looked like, you can rest assured,...she had one, strong arm! There was just something invigorating about challenging "Lady Luck,"...and Frances met with her often.And her gaming spirit didn't end there. Trying her best to enter the digital age, Frances found great enjoyment in playing games on her tablet. If you knew her well, then there's no questioning that her favorite game was "Diamond Dash." It would keep her busy and entertained for hours. But the old-fashioned games still reigned supreme as well. As shared by her loved ones, Frances often opened up a can of you know what when it came to the game of Pinochle! Her gaming pleasures were also met each time she sat down with a Word Search puzzle to solve. But the most poignant and heart-warming moments were those shared with her grandchildren when the "Highlight" books came out. Sitting with them and trying to find the hidden objects together was not only a step-back to her own childhood, but a treasured tradition she was delighted to have passed down.And there can't be a story or reflection of Frances without mentioning one of her most important pastimes,…watching "Dancing With the Stars." She wasn't merely a fan,…Frances was obsessed! Obviously, she was always taken by the incredible talent she saw while watching the dancing competition show. But when it came to the voting process, she was like woman possessed!!! From the many, family phones she sequestered in order to increase the number of votes cast,…to getting on the computer (which is about the only time she used the device) to do the same, she was bound to make her mark.Frances was also renown for being quite the "organizer." She easily fit into that "a place for everything, and everything in its place" type of person. All you needed to do was ask, and she could tell you exactly where everything was. From documents and paperwork, to the many material belongings that filled her home, Frances was in touch with it all and aware of its location.When it came to her tastes in food, "hot & spicy" was where it was at! For her sweet-tooth satisfaction, it was actually the "sour" varieties like her "Cry Babies Gum" and the old-time "Smarties" that fit the bill. But when thinking of food, this story is compelled to turn to the traditions that Frances held dear,…like the importance of sharing a family dinner around the table. Every day at 5pm, Ed and the kids could be assured that Frances / Mom would have something delicious prepared and ready to eat. She worked some incredible magic in the kitchen and filled many-a-belly throughout the years. If you came to her table with an appetite, you never left disappointed. It was just one example of how precious and valued her loved ones were, and how she strived to be the homemaker and caregiver that God called her to be. She loved her family immensely,…especially her cherished grandchildren. She touched a multitude of hearts and souls along life's path, and the memories they created together will forever be a guidepost in the journey ahead. She will be missed immensely and loved eternally. Frances was the beloved wife of the late Edward. Dear mother of Lora (Joseph) Kolassa, Keith (Jessica) Shoemake, Deborah (John) Adams, and Brian (Candace) Shoemake. Loving grandmother of Brandi, Chloe, Cassidy, Korrina, Hailey, Gabriela, Gianna, Ryan, Amber, Paige, Rachel, and Luke. Sister of Merry Casey, Stanley "Stosh" (Deborah) Kania, and Marjorie (Mickey) Shoemake. Visitation for Frances will be held on Monday, February 17th from 3-9pm, with a 7pm Rosary Service, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Road) in Warren. She will lie In State on Tuesday from 9:30am until time of the Funeral Mass at 10am at St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families Catholic Church – St. Clement Campus in Center Line. Interment will follow at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Michigan.Memorial donations are welcomed to the family. Please share memories of Frances at her guest book.