This is written by Michelle and Michael, Fran’s kids. We’d love to be able to tell you ourselves what a great mom Fran was, but neither one of us could make it through without blubbering uncontrollably. So, to get the message across, we asked Doug to read the following on our behalf.

When we look back to our childhood and remember, Mom was always busy. Busy with a career, busy helping someone out or volunteering her time and efforts to one of the many organizations she belonged to. No matter how busy Mom got, she always made time for us kids. She seemed to have an ability to squeeze 25 hours out of each day.

When we were younger, Mom worked a full time. But those jobs only required 8 hours of attention per day. That still left Fran 17 hours to fill every day and she got good value for every minute.

Mom volunteered some of her time to a handful of organizations.

We remember doing family things together. Family things like collating a newsletter for the Jaycee’s and Jaycette’s, or perhaps we were taking turns using the hand crank on the gestetner to create a cookbook for whatever organization needed one. As kids, we assumed everyone had a backroom like Mom’s office, Command Central, a fully operating printing press. We had enough paper stock and stationary supplies to open our own store. Oh sure, we went swimming, skating and camping too, but we always came together to take those 38 piles of paper and sort them into another high quality Moon production. This was all pre-computer era, so Mom created these newsletters and cookbooks with typewriters and whiteout.

Mom always seemed to be helping someone or some group with her time and energies. But with that said, she always made time for us kids. When Michelle was starting to go to Brownies, they we’re short a leader…so in typical fashion, Mmom volunteered her time and became a Brownie Leader. When Mike’s Public School was looking for someone to teach a cooking class, Mom, without hesitation, booked the day off work to teach that class.

When Mike was in Scouting, Fran was elected the first female President of Boy Scouts of Belleville District. While Mom was busy improving Scouting for kids in the Belleville area, she still had time to help out Dad (Ron Moon) organize a Boy Scout museum. That same museum they started back in 1975 was passed on to the Belleville Boy Scouts and now has grown to be one of the largest collections of Boy Scout - Girl Guide memorabilia on permanent display in Canada.

Mom accomplished all of this, so far, with just a Grade 9 education. Wanting more and only in her mid-forties, she returned to school and successfully obtained her High School diploma. We were so proud of her and we knew there was going to be no stopping her now. She

Mom was in 60’s, when many are thinking about slowing down for retirement, she announced to us she had decided to get a computer. She took courses, read books and always had us kids to guide her along. Within no time, printing productions were back, and stronger then ever. Cookbooks, calendars and newsletters were produced for a lot of non-profit groups and organizations. She learned Accounting software and helped out many groups by keeping their books or filing their taxes. Mom always found the time to help and now with her computer abilities, she could do more in less time.

She loved creating newsletters. Her crowning Jewel was “The Black & White of The Great Blue Heron” newsletter. In real life and in print, Mom made time and space for everyone. She always had the time to make people feel special.

With 25 hours in Mom’s day, she always had time for her kids, grandkids, friends and anyone that crossed her path. And she didn’t just give us her time, but she gave us her undivided attention.

Mom and Deryk have been together for over 27 years. We’re not sure if Deryk knew what he was getting into when he married Mom, but he’s been by her side to share in many of the highlights of Mom’s life. For that, we thank you.

Time.

71 years doesn’t seem long enough. We love you and will miss you, but we are all better people for the time we’ve had with Fran.