Frances Reid Passerello

Frances Reid Passerello passed away on March 4, 2019 after a prolonged illness.  She was 73 years old.  Frances Joan Reid was born on May 5, 1945, in Phillipsburg, New Jersey to Marguerite Logan Reid and Douglas Cohoe Reid.  While in high school, she met her future husband, Chris Passerello.  She attended high school at North Hunterdon Regional high school from 1959-1962, at which time her parents moved to Canada, and she finished school at Kipling Collegiate Institute in Ontario.  She and Chris were married on September 18, 1965 in New Jersey, and they resided in Cincinnati where Chris was a student and then a professor at the University of Cincinnati. 

Chris and Fran had two children, Kimberly Lynn and Lisa Beth.  Fran loved being a mom, and her children both have fond memories of all the things they did together.  It was when the children were young that Fran and Chris moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where Fran spent the final 41 years of her life.  

Fran was very active in her community.  She was a volunteer for many organizations.  When her children were growing up, she was very active in 4-H, helping lead a Community 4-H Club, teaching sewing, crafts and community service.  She was honored with a number of honors including 4-H Family of the Year in 1987 and Community Task force Volunteer of the Year in 1993.  Later, she helped her daughter found the Classy Canine 4-H Club, a club focused on Dog Care and Training.  Many children benefited from Fran’s teachings over the years. 

When Fran’s children were grown, she worked in the Houghton High School Library.  She loved her time at the library and had many fond memories of helping students with projects and book suggestions.  Fran also became very interested in quilting around this time.  She was a member of an art quilt group, and she made many quilts and quilted works.  She loved the art of quilting and loved to visit quilt museums all over the USA and Canada.  She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Hancock, MI.

Once Chris retired from a long career at Michigan Technological University, she and Chris obtained a travel trailer and made some big trips around North America.  They were able to visit Alaska, Nova Scotia, around Lake Superior, and also a drive across the USA.  Fran really enjoyed these trips and the chance to visit places of familial significance and beautiful scenery and to visit friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother and her sister, Carolyn Reid Keiper.  She is survived by her husband, Chris, her daughter Kimberly & Husband John (Foster), her daughter Lisa and husband Matthew (Dragon) and granddaughter Iris (Dragon).

There will be a memorial service celebrating Fran’s life at the First United Methodist Church, Hancock, MI, on Friday, March 8, 2019 at 11 in the morning.  Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made in Fran’s memory to the Houghton-Keweenaw County MSU Extension (4-H), 1500 Birch St., Hancock, MI 49930 or Omega House, 2211 Maureen Lane, Houghton, MI 49931.

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