On January 7 we said goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many, Frances Luise Winczura (Nee Frohlich). In the early morning hours she took her last breaths with her son by her side, ending a 10 year battle with dementia.

Frances leaves behind her two sons Doyle and Darren Winczura, her brother Gary, her grandchildren Michelle, Sheryl, Devon, Courtney, Megan, Teryn, Ashley and Blake as well as 7 great grand children.

She was predeceased by her parents Frank and May, her sister Audrey, her husband Alfred and daughter Lorna. We take peace in knowing they are all together again.

Frances was born in Vancouver just before the Christmas of 1939, at the age of six her family purchased and relocated to a farm north east of Viking where she began developing the strong and iconic work ethic she later became known for.

In 1957 Frances met Alfred Winczura while working at the Bank of Montreal and after being swept off her feet, they were married August 2, 1958. Over the course of the next nine years they brought their three children; Lorna, Doyle and Darren into the world.

In 1964 Frances and Alfred purchased their homestead where they later built their dream house. Running their own cattle, pig, chicken and grain farm required a tremendous amount of hard work and sacrifice and Frannie stepped up in a huge way; milking the cow daily, bailing straw, doing chores, pulling calves and running combine all while keeping her husband and three children well fed, clothed and getting them to all their sports.

In 1975 Alfred purchased a water well drilling rig (after renting it to drill his own well) leading Frannie to pick up even more responsibility on the farm while Alfred drilled wells. Together they built up their two businesses to a level of success that allowed for travel to places like Hawaii, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. Setting an example for future generations without even knowing it.

Both Alfred and Frances took pride in being well dressed and Frannie loved getting dolled up whether she was taking a meal to the field or going to a wedding.

Fran loved going to town for coffee, most of the time Alfred went with her but on rare occasions he would say he was too busy so she would go on her own, only to hear the door jingle a few minutes after getting her coffee and look up to see her handsome husband walking in, all cleaned up and unable to be apart from her. She would giggle knowing that he would have had to run to the shower shortly after hearing her car leave and regretting his choice.

In 1988 she tragically lost her husband Alfred in a plane crash when he was flying to watch his youngest, Darren, play hockey. This loss lead Fran to relocate to Camrose in 1995 to find more social opportunities including the Saturday night dances she loved to attend.

During her years in Camrose she made many meaningful friendships and worked at the hospital as a porter and then later, coming out of retirement, to be a hostess at a local restaurant. She never knew how to stop working hard and serving others, she thoroughly enjoyed her years in this community.

In the summer of 2020 Fran retuned home to Viking as a resident of the Extended Care. The level of care she's received in this facility went above and beyond any of our expectations.

Affectionately referred to as "Fancy Frannie" or "Franny Fine" by the staff because of how well dressed she always was. People often held the door for her, thinking she was visitor due to her her fancy attire, leading to a few "escapes" and some increased safety measures to keep her within the building.

At some point her high heels had to be hidden away because she insisted on wearing them no matter how badly they hurt her feet.

The extended care in Viking was absolutely incredible to our Frannie and we cannot thank them enough for all the extras and the love.

As the family grieves our loss, we also imagine Frances dressed to the 9's dancing with Grandpa once again. A moment she has waited almost 40 years for.

Rest easy Mom (Grandma) we know you are where you belong.

A private service for immediate family will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada.