Frances Fran Marie Chimenti Johnson

She was born on January 27, 1920 in Menlo Park, California to Charles and Violet Chimenti. Frances graduated from San Francisco’s Galileo High School in 1938.

During school she was involved in a San Francisco City Park’s Recreation Program focusing on gymnastics and dancing. It was this involvement where she developed her passion for dancing. Fran was asked to join a professional Tap and Hawaiian dancing group. She paid for her lessons by teaching dancing to younger children. In 1939 she performed Hawaiian dancing on stage at the San Francisco World’s Fair.

On October 14, 1944 she married Roy Johnson at Camp Haan in Riverside County. Their life of 60 years together was spent mostly on their Maze Road farm in Modesto. As most farmers, Roy and Fran worked hard long hours to make the farm successful. They both enjoyed trips to Reno and camping with their daughters and other family members. Fran cherished her dear Modesto friends and always enjoyed visiting with them. In her spare time, she volunteered teaching tap dancing to the local Brownie group and was a 4-H leader in the Wood Colony area.

While in San Francisco, she worked as a secretary at the Presidio. Other jobs she had was school secretary for Hart Ransom Elementary School and secretary for the engineers at Barium Products both in the Modesto area. She retired as a classroom aide with Modesto City Schools.

Preceding her in death were her two brothers, Charles and Jack Chimenti; her husband, Roy Johnson: and her granddaughter Annette Pearcy.

Surviving Frances are her two daughters, Linda LeNeave (John) of Davis Creek, CA and Diana Pearcy (Bob) of Visalia,CA. She loved her six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Moving to Visalia, she enjoyed reading horoscopes to all whom where around her. She always started her day with a prayer and a smile. She lived her life accepting each day with a positive attitude. She would tell people that her favorite prayer that helped her during her life was ”May God grant me the serenity to accept things that I cannot change: and the courage to change the things I can: and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Fran’s Memorial Service will be held at 1pm on September 30, 2012 at Lakewood Memorial Park in Hughson, California. At 2:30pm family and friends will gather at Bel Piatto at 1000 Kansas Ave, Modesto.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate friends to donate to their favorite charity or donate to Annie Pearcy Memorial Scholarship, Woodlake High School Foundation, PO Box 475,Woodlake, Ca 93286.

Tributes and condolences may be offered at www.millerchapel.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291 (559) 732-8371