Joanne Frana

Friday, February 26, 2016 3:23 pm

Joanne Frana, 79, of Cedar Rapids, passed away at the Mercy Medical Center Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, with her family at her side. Mass of Christian Burial was Saturday, Feb. 20, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by celebrant Rev. Dennis Juhl and assisted by Deacon Butch Stone. Visitation was Friday, Feb. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, with a rosary at 4 p.m. and scripture service at 7 p.m. by Deacon Butch Stone. Additional visitation was from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church Saturday. Interment was at the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in Spillville, Monday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m.

Joanne Madonna Frana was born July 28, 1936, the daughter of James R. and Adella (Shindelar) Frana on the family farm near Decorah. She attended Madison Country School near Decorah, and St. Wenceslaus School in Spillville. She graduated from Decorah High School in 1954. She moved to Cedar Rapids, where she was employed at Bishop’s restaurant, an accountant supervisor at a large insurance firm for many years and later worked at APAC before retirement. Joanne enjoyed shopping, reading, lottery tickets, walking the mall and she loved being around people. She was a wonderful cook and prepared many delicious meals which she brought home for her Mom and family for the holidays She was a very generous person with a big heart who adored her Mom and enjoyed attending midnight mass with her at Christmas in Spillville for many, many years. Joanne stayed with her Mom for two years to help take care of her during her final years. She was a member of St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church. She will be dearly missed.

Joanne’s survivors include her special friend and devoted companion of many years, Larry Schmidt; her daughter, Terri Christian of Center Point; two grandsons, Jeffrey and Justin Christian; two great- grandchildren, Jakob and Chloe Christian; six sisters: Leona Whalen of Cresco, Marian Nobles of Bloomfield, N.M., Madonna Haddy, Arlene Brazier, both of Cedar Rapids, Doretta Frana of Madison, Wis., and Susan Durham of Calmar; brother, Wesley Frana of Decorah; 30 nieces and nephews; 57 great -nieces and -nephews; and 30-plus great-great nieces and -nephews.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, James R. Frana July 29, 1971 and Adella Frana Jan. 10, 2008; brother, Alvin Frana Feb. 24, 2009; sister, Lorraine Lockhart June 27, 2011; five brothers-in-law: Thomas Lockhart, William Nobles, Jack Brazier, John Durham and Bobbie Haddy; six nephews: Michael Nobles in infancy, James Lockhart, Mark Lockhart, Ricky, Andrew and Michael Lockhart in infancy; and a great-nephew, Mark Whalen.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Mercy Hospital for the loving care given to Joanne.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. Please share a memory of Joanne at murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.