Frances H May
December 15, 2017
Obituary
STOUGHTON/MADISON/Mass. - Frances H. May, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, in Newburyport, Mass. Born on April 26, 1926, and raised in Stoughton, Wis., the daughter of Oscar and Thea (Fosdal) Holte, she was a long-time resident of Madison, before moving to Massachusetts to live with her daughter and son-in-law in 2013. She is survived by her daughter, Jill (May) Weber and son-in-law David Weber, West Newbury, MA, granddaughter Erin Weber, Marblehead, Mass., brother Helmer Holte, Harshaw, Wis., along with numerous nieces and nephews. On July 31, 1948, she married her high school sweetheart, Paul J. May, Jr., at Christ Lutheran Church in Stoughton. They enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage until his death in 2008. In her early years, Frances enjoyed helping out on the family farm in Stoughton. After graduating from Stoughton High School and earning her bachelor’s degree from Milwaukee State Teachers College and her master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin, she taught kindergarten in the Madison School district for over 40 years. Frances was an avid knitter and enjoyed her monthly bridge club gatherings with her fellow teachers. She loved to cook and was well known for her sweet tooth and fondness for Norwegian food. She and her husband enjoyed raising and showing Cocker Spaniels and, later in life, she continued her fondness for dogs and horses after moving to Massachusetts. Even after moving to the East Coast, she continued to follow Badger sports, the Green Bay Packers, and the Milwaukee Brewers with enthusiasm. Funeral services will be held at LAKE EDGE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4032 Monona Drive, Madison at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Monona. The family will greet friends at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, and also at the church 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday. The family would like to extend their gratitude to all of the staff at Great Lakes Caring Hospice in Newburyport, Mass. for their kindness and helpful care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Frances’s name to Lake Edge Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Dr., Madison
608-221-5420
Events
Visitation
Tue Dec 19, 2017 @ 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Visitation
Wed Dec 20, 2017 @ 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM CDT
Lake Edge Lutheran Church (Monona) • 4032 Monona Drive, Monona, WI null
Service
Wed Dec 20, 2017 @ 10:00 AM CDT
Lake Edge Lutheran Church (Monona) • 4032 Monona Drive, Monona, WI null
Photos
Memories
B
bel
Other •
To the family and friends of Frances, please accept my sincere condolences. Look forward to seeing God's wonderful promise fulfilled found in Isaiah 25:8 for the loved ones we have lost in death.
LJ
Lisa Johnson
Other •
Mrs. May was our daughter's kindergarten teacher at Elvehjem Elementary in Madison, WI in 1988. On the first day of school, when it was time for the parents to leave their students, our daughter clung onto me with her legs wrapped around my waist like a baby monkey clinging to its mother. Mrs. May was very patient and kind to me as she gently pried our daughter away and took her into her care in the classroom. There was never an incident of separation anxiety after that because our daughter bonded to Mrs. May and felt comfortable with her. Forever, I have been thankful for this wonderful teacher and all that our daughter and I learned from her. I consider it an honor to have met such an outstanding person and will never forget her. Sincerely, Lisa Johnson
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Gail Herrmann
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Jill, Dave, Erin and James
We are so sorry for your loss. Jill, your mom was such a special person and loved by many. She was so patient with us in our high school years and I was so glad I had the opportunity to see her a couple times, including this fall, at your home in MA. She will be deeply missed by many. Sending you all our sincere condolences. Dave and Gail Herrmann.
LF
Linda Falkenstein
Other •
My deepest sympathies to your family in what must be a great loss. I'm sure you will hear a lot of this, but, Mrs. May was my kindergarten teacher at Elvehjem in the fall of 1966. I loved school from the start and I'm sure she had a lot to do with that. Being east siders of course we would run into her from time to time as I was growing up and she always would stop to chat with me and my mom. Years later -- 2009 in fact -- she called me up to thank me for an article I had written in the newspaper about legislation pending in Wisconsin to (theoretically) stem the rise of puppy mills in the state. She had, she said, been reading my articles in the paper (I write for the newsweekly in Madison) with great interest for years and this issue -- she spoke of your cocker spaniels and her love of dogs -- was so important to her she finally picked up the phone to call and say hi. It was really a thrill for me that she called and for her to tell me she liked my work -- all of which ultimately stems from learning how to write and read in her class. Thanks for sharing her with us. Peace to you, Linda Falkenstein
EW
Erin Weber
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Photos of Nana
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BM
Barb Mason
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Jill, Dave, Erin, and James,
I was so surprised to hear of Fran's passing, especially after seeing her in October. So glad that I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time with her then... before that I last saw her at a party - must have been either an anniversary for your folks, Jill, or a retirement party?
Your mom was always gracious and caring and interested in the lives of those around her - including your friends! I remember being at your house when your mom came home from school, and you saying it took her a while to switch hats from kindergarten teacher to Mom! Hard to blame her after all those years of teaching K kids - her patience must have been never ending.
I know you'll miss her - hope there is comfort in knowing her last years were spent with you, and she was happy being there together.... and also in knowing that she is with your dad again. I'm sure she missed him terribly.
Love to you all - safe travels to Madison and home again.
Barb