Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Frances “Fran” Anna Ingebo 86, went to be with God, surrounded by family on Monday, March 27, 2017. A dedicated mother of nine children, hard-working and loyal wife, she lived 61 years in The Dalles, Ore. Born, Jacqueline Frances Young on June 26, 1930, she lived a positive and active life. Daughter of Anna and James Young, she grew up on Poydras Street in Hyde Park, Mass., near Boston. One of her first memories was to see her “papa” Grandpa Arthur, come home from work on the railroad in front of her Aunt Natalie’s house (built by Uncle Willy in 1923). “He would always bring me Chiclets… he died when I was 4… I loved him dearly.” Fran’s beloved French-Canadian Grandmother Anna and her “Aunt Natalie” looked after her, her sisters and cousins as she attended Chittick Elementary School where she had the happiest of memories.
On a tour of duty in the Navy, Alvin Paul Ingebo walked into a diner at South Station in Hyde Park where he met a waitress named Frances. On July 12, 1947, they were married in New York City, after which they moved to Key West. Fla. They then lived in Bozeman, Mont., from 1948-1951. That first September, Denise was born, followed by Valerie, Marlena and Daryl. They then moved to Lima, Mont., and to Greeley, Colo. In 1954, the growing family moved west to The Dalles, where Kenneth, Yvonne, George, Michael and finally Jennifer completed the family. Fran helped to build the family home on several acres off on lower Mill Creek Road. Some of the family members still reside today in the immediate vicinity.
To help support their big family, Fran continued waitressing in the 1960’s at The Dalles Hotel where she served then-Senator John F. Kennedy, who was from her hometown, and then at Pat’s Pancake House on West 6th Street. After studying bookkeeping at night, she was hired as office manager of a newly opened car dealership, “Thomas Motors,” next to the Pancake House where she worked for the next 38 years. Fran was honored with numerous awards for her superior efforts by Toyota, Honda, and Mercury. She also served as a Notary Public.
Fran was a friend to all, especially those in need, and she always addressed anyone she met by name. Childhood friend Audrey of California, Faye McConnell of The Dalles, and Peggy Biggs of Spokane, Wash., and later Joanne Smith at The Springs in The Dalles, were her closest friends. Her professional activities and accolades were many as she was a true professional in every sense. She enjoyed travels to visit son George in Alaska, to Boston to visit relatives, and to Europe in search of family history and to spend time with Gunter and Gerda from Sweden. Her travels with family were the highlight of her life, but travels to Norway and Italy were especially intriguing to her. And as Fran would say, “Well,...I guess that’s all that’s fit to print.”
Frances is preceded in death by Alvin; daughter Valerie; sisters, Louise, Barbara and Geraldine; and cousin Marilyn Robley of Canada. Fran is survived by her cousin; Jimmie Young; nephew Victor Jr. Panzieri of Boston, Mass.; children Denise (George, Gerald) Ingebo, Marlena (husband David) Bertram, Daryl (Kate) Ingebo, Ken (wife Linda) Ingebo, Yvonne (husband Dwight) Huskey, George Ingebo, Michael Ingebo, Jennifer (John) VanVleet; and grandchildren Jeremy and Caroline; Aaron; Paul and Heidi; Marty; Sarah and Christine; Tobin; Pete and Mychal; Hannah; Carter and Jillian; and 24 great-grandchildren.
Fran placed a high value on her faith and on her children’s education. She saw to it that they received the very best education possible at St Mary’s Academy. Fran was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in The Dalles for over 60 years and all of her children attended St. Mary’s. She will be buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary’s Academy Foundation, The Dalles, Ore.
Memorial services will be held at Old St. Peter’s Landmark, 405 Lincoln St. The Dalles, Ore., on April 15, at noon, with Bob Huskey officiating. Visiting with refreshments will follow.
Viewing will be at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home, 1100 Kelly Ave. The Dalles, Ore., from 2-6 p.m. on April 14 and from 9-11 a.m. on April 15.
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