Frances Kay (Simmons) Hess, 71, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, October 5, peacefully in her home after a 15 month journey with bile duct cancer.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, at the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, with Pastor John Walker officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., on Thursday at Muller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.
Frances (Fran) was born to Ned and Florence (Irons) Simmons on June 10, 1944, in Monon, Indiana. After her childhood years of school and working for her parents at the I&M Cafe in Monon, she attended Elkhart University of Medical and Dental Technique to become a Medical Transcriptionist and there in 1964 she met William (Bill) Hess. They began their life together, getting married on November 28, 1964, in Indianapolis, Indiana. After some years of work related moves in Indiana and Maryland, Bill and Fran moved to Ottawa, his hometown, where she worked as a Medical Transcriptionist at Ryburn-King Hospital, and later began what became many years of self-owned businesses.
Fran retired from self-employment following the death of her husband, and began her 2nd career as a medical transcriptionist beginning in early 2001 until her retirement in May 2014, all at St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator, IL.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, where she served as an elder. She was a member of the Dayton Homemakers Circle. Her many joys included sharing her faith with her church family and friends, gardening, enjoying home improvement projects, traveling with family and friends, numerous late night card games, and dropping anything to spend time with her greatest joy, her grandchildren.
She is survived by her son Michael (Dawn) Hess and daughter Nathalie (Joseph) Schmidt, all of Ottawa, and grandchildren Caroline Ruth and Anna Mae Schmidt, Holly Anne and Nathan Michael Hess. Also surviving is her brother James Simmons, of Muncie, Indiana, two sisters, Elsie Goodin, of Auburndale, Florida, Mary (Jim) Humston, of Greencastle, Indiana, cousin “sister” Susan (Paul) Walker, Indianapolis, Indiana, brother-in-law Chuck (Jean) Hess, of Ottawa, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill, on September 11, 2000, parents, and a brother and sister in infancy.
Memorials may be directed to the Mission Fund at First Presbyterian Church.
Fran is laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion.