Frances H. Viana

To Frances H. Viana, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Frances, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Frances really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Frances was born on October 4, 1920 at home in National City, California. Her parents were Jose and Juana Hernandez. Frances was raised in National City and Tijuana. Even as a child, Frances had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Frances was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Frances managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Frances was raised with one sibling. She had an older brother, Ricardo.

Frances never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Frances to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Frances delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Frances was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Frances utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Later in life, she became friends with her daughter Bertha and Tomasa Arana. Frances loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Frances very easy to approach. On 1965 Frances exchanged wedding vows with Antonio R. Viana at National City Courthouse of National City, California. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Frances related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Frances was blessed with ten children, seven daughters, Esther,Juana,Guadalupe,Julieta,Antonia,Bertha,Isabel,and two sons, Francisco and Jose Guadalupe. Frances had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Frances's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Frances had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Frances was a real “people person.” She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Frances liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Frances was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Frances's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Frances as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was homemaker.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Frances recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church of Chula Vista, California for many years.

Living life in the fast lane suited Frances just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Las Vegas, Mexico and Hawaii.

Services were held at St. Pius X Church. Frances was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego, California.

Frances brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Frances H. Viana lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.