Frances Miller

Frances was born August 27, 1930, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was the first member of her immediate family to be born in Canada. After graduating from school, Frances was employed by Winnipeg Electric. She married Heinz Schnitzler in 1955 and their first daughter, Charlotte, was born in 1959. Soon they had 2 more daughters, Carla, born 1961, and Corinne born 1964. Heinz passed away suddenly in 1966 and Frances raised her children on her own. She returned to work at Manitoba Hydro and was employed there until her retirement in 1986.

Frances married Bernard Miller (Barney) in 1974, and they were married for 38 years until his death in 2012. In Barney, Frances found her soulmate and someone to participate with her in the activities she so enjoyed. For Frances, retirement brought the opportunity to travel and spend time with her grandchildren. Even though she was retired, Frances was always busy enjoying her many hobbies. She shared many happy times with her family at her cottage at Booster Lake, where she loved to swim and go snowmobiling. Frances had a great love for animals and almost always had a dog or cat resting on her lap. Widely referred to as “the nicest person I ever met” Frances was also the worst cook, but never failed to ensure that anyone that visited was given something to eat whether they wanted it or not.

Frances is loved and survived by her daughter, Charlotte (Tom) Cels, her son-in-law Russell Hall (Jennifer), her stepson Don, her stepdaughter Sandy, her grandchildren, Cari (Ross), Mark, Lauren, Brian (Ashley), Erik (Kaitlyn) and James (Kayla) and her great-grandchildren Evelyn, Clara, Henry and Anna. She was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Helene Klassen, her sisters Selma and Marguerite, her husband Heinz, her husband Barney, and her daughters Carla and Corinne.

At Frances’ request, cremation has taken place and a private family memorial service will take place at a later date. The family would like to give sincere thanks to the staff at the Grace Hospital for their wonderful care and compassion.

I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun; Of happy memories that I leave when life is done. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.