Frances Marie Strazicich was born at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, WA, on October 5, 1943, to Mr. Francis Joseph Jonko and Mrs. Florence Margaret Keinbaum Jonko. Frances passed on February 13, 2024 in Seattle at Harborview Medical Center, after a major stroke. She waited for the praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, given to the world through St. Faustina, on whose feast Frances was born, before she went home to Jesus.

Frances was the 2nd oldest of five siblings, Joanna (Reed,  deceased), Mary (MacGowan), Catherine (Caubet) and Joseph "Junior" Jonko. She attended St. Paschal's and West Valley High, naturally became lifelong friends with her classmates, notably Mary Ann Hart of NYC, and Nancy Allen, of Spokane. She always applied herself, even though she was never the brightest. She had a massive  correspondence of holiday cards and photos.

Frances suffered from bipolar depression throughout her life,punctuated by three major hospitalizations. Following her parents to California, Frances enrolled in Sacramento State College to become a dental assistant. There Frances became pregnant with Keith, who was born in 1967. Keith was entrusted to Catholic Charities for adoption into a Catholic family. Later in life Frances loved to knit, and she described the hundreds of baby blankets she made as her "pro-life project."

Frances was eventually married to Carson MacIntosh in 1969. She described this marriage as very unhappy. At this time, she met the Strazicich family, working with Emile's wife, Dorothy, and their adopted daughter, Nicki, at Winchell's Donuts. The Strazicich's encourage Frances to try to practice her Catholic faith. One day on the way to work, she stopped by a local Catholic Church and lit a candle with this prayer: "Dear Blessed Mother, if you get me out of this marriage, I will tell everyone about you for the rest of my life." Frances came home from work later that week and found Carson dead in his recliner. Around the same time, Dorothy Strazicich died of stomach cancer.

Within six months, Emile and Frances Strazicich were married at Holy Family Church in San Jose, CA on Oct 22, 1973 (the day Karol Wojtyla was elected Pope John Paul II). Frances adopted Emile's two adopted children, Alan and Nicki Strazicich. Emile and Frances set out to be very devout Catholics in their new marriage after their recent widowhoods. Fr. John Sweeny at Our Lady of Peace Church in Santa Clara recruited them to organize the  Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Program that is still going to this day. They also attended the rosary rallies of the famous Fr. Patrick Peyton. They adopted Fr. Peyton's motto: the family that prays together stays together, and so they faithfully prayed the rosary together daily for the rest of their lives. Emile and Frances were also involved in California and Spokane in the Legion of Mary, the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, and Night Adoration in the Home program of Fr. Mateo Crowley.

Emile bought an RV and the new couple travelled North America. With Emile's military privileges they flew to Europe on pilgrimage: renting a car, they visited Rome, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Southern France, visiting the shrines of the Vatican, Avila, Fatima, and Lourdes (they had already visited Guadalupe in Mexico and St. Joseph's in Montreal).

Mel was born in Spokane in 1978 while they were visiting Frances's family. The new family moved from Spokane, WA to Biggs and Oroville, CA, and then to Lacey, WA. In 1988, the family moved to Mt. Vernon, WA. Emile passed there in 2007. Frances stayed in Mt. Vernon until January 2022, when she entered 24-hour care, spending the last two years of her life in several care homes, lastly at Soundview Rehabilitation in Anacortes.

Frances is described by all who met her as "very sweet." She was never known to gossip at all. She was a dedicated housewife and mother. After Emile's passing her social calendar had to be kept in check by her psychiatrist and her son, Fr. Straz, as she had become a social butterfly. TOPS became a significant and successful part of her life. All were special to her, but especially friends who shared activities, prayed the Rosary, and went to Mass with her. She was also an avid baker of cookies and pastry breads.

According to Fr. Straz, the happiest day of her life was when Frances was reunited with her son Keith in 2007. Her first words to Keith were, "I've prayed for you everyday." She was surely thinking of both her two boys with every blanket she made.

Frances suffered so much, so silently, and for so long, that she surely will not lose her reward. Fr. Straz will miss her all her little notes of affection, and ability to feel her way through any situation by giggling whenever someone started to be selfish or otherwise misbehave. The last time Father went to visit her at Soundview, Frances suddenly broke out into song when she said goodbye, based on the Sound of Music.

The family wish to thank all who have ministered to and visited Frances over the years, including all the priests of the Skagit County of the last several years, among others, and many lay ministers. Special thanks to Kathy Moore, who helped Frances maintain an independent lifestyle for five years. Special thanks to the agencies and friends that helped Frances be semi-independent during the  covid-pandemic lockdowns and aftermath. Thank you to the friends who helped Frances move so many times over the last 20 years. Thank you to St. Mary parishioners who long ago helped with the and first estate sale and transition when the family's life changed forever in 2005. Very special thanks to the staff and  managers of Mountain Glen Assisted Living, My Joyas AFH, Logan Creek Senior Living, Salem Village II Senior Living, Kim's Care AFH, Caring Hearts AFH, and Soundview Rehabilitation. Thanks also to the medical staff at Island Health, Skagit Regional Health, Shiffa Health, Dr. Doris Lam, and most especially Harborview Medical Center: Harborview far exceeded expectations in their care to their patients and their families.

Fr. Straz finally wishes to express gratitude beyond measure for those who made the trip to Harborview to visit Frances, and  especially to his brother priests: You, my brothers, far exceeded my expectations. Thank you to Fathers Maurer, Altenhofen, Hagelin, Christiansen and Bray, and also Nick Schoen from the Chancery. Thank you Archbishop Etienne for your care and solicitude. Thank you, my brothers in Christ!

In lieu of flowers, please consider thanking a caregiver by giving them a compliment or a treat. Even more, please consider visiting and praying with residents in care homes, facilities and hospitals, preferably through your church. Hearts will be blessed if you do.

To share memories of Frances, please visit www.evanschapel.com/obituary/frances-strazicich .