Frances Olive Walsh Welch, aged 96, died peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on April 23, 2022. She was a native of Baton Rouge born on October 25, 1925 at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. She was known as a kind, compassionate lady of gracious manner and quiet, gentle spirit. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was dedicated to her family, lovingly known to many of them as "Tantze". She faced life’s joys and sorrows with incredible strength and sweet grace through her strong faith in God’s love and guidance. She graduated from Louisiana State University Laboratory School, then known as Demonstration High. She attended Louisiana State University where she met and later married the love of her life William Preston Welch. She had a lifelong love of the arts and taught her family that appreciation through her example. She was a self-taught artist, creating beautiful paintings which she gifted to her family and friends. She played the piano by ear and wrote many thoughtful stories about her life’s experiences. She was a talented gardener able to grow anything from “cuttings” alone. In her youth, she had a career in finance at Fidelity National Bank which she resumed in later life as the assistant manager of the Campus Federal Credit Union. Frances enriched the lives of many children through her work as a substitute teacher. But it was her love of family which constituted her life's work to whom she was loving, caring and de- voted in every way. She was a member of Baton Rouge Daughters of the American Revolution where she served as Chaplin for many years. She was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church often working in the church nursery. She is preceded in death by her husband, William Preston Welch; her parents, Walter Winn Walsh and Ruth Kuhnert Walsh; sister and brothers, Ruth Knox, Walter Winn Walsh Jr. (Bubby), David Walsh, Donald Walsh and her grandmother Frances Kuhnert. She is survived by her brother, Dale Patrick Walsh: children, Alice Welch Fresina (Michael), Dr. William Preston Welch (Donna), her grandchildren, Katherine Frances Fresina , Alice Frances Lero (Hunter), Megan Walker(Patrick), William Preston Welch lll (Kate), William Taylor Welch; her great grandchildren; Ethan Walker, Addison Walker , Malyn Walker , Mia Welch, Lorelei Welch , Nathaniel Preston Lero: as well as many wonderful nieces , nephews and cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Cleo Milano at Our Lady of Mercy Church on April 28 at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be held on April 27 at Rabenhorst Funeral home on Government St, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and at Our Lady of Mercy Church from 9:00 AM until Mass begins at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. The family would like to thank Michael Fresina for his love and support, nurse Sharon Moss and The Hospice Of Baton Rouge especially nurse Lisa Comeaux and chaplin Jennie Seals. Rabenhorst Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
