Frances Katherine Shensky

Frances passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, March 17, 2023

Frances was born in Tacoma, Washington on December 22, 1930.  She was the second oldest of six children.  Frances attended Sherman Elementary, Mason Jr. High, and Stadium High School, as well as the College of Puget Sound where she studied music and the piano.    

While working at the Ordinance Depot, she met her husband of 59 years, Joseph Shensky.

Frances and Joe settled in Tacoma and began raising their family of five children.  Frances loved being “a part of her children’s lives and encouraged their interests.  Frances was a long-time member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, and was recently honored as one of the church’s longest living members! 

She joined, and frequently took on leadership roles, at her children’s preschool, PTA, CCD, CYO, Catholic Daughters of America, the Croatian Fraternal Union, and actively participated in her community.  She spent hours volunteering at the Holy Cross Rummage Hall, cooking and serving for many church dinners and events. 

Frances was truly an extrovert!  She enjoyed her friendships, many of whom dated back to her childhood.  She was close to her sisters and brother and often hosted many family dinners filled with lots of chaos and joy!!  She never missed a school reunion or a Croatian picnic!  She loved to talk on the phone to friends and family!  She was often overheard by her children speaking to her Croatian friends and family in an interesting mixture of English/Croatian. Always being a special Teta Fran to the greatest group of Nephews and Nieces.

Although raising a family often kept her close to home, Frances enjoyed traveling, especially as her children got older.  She loved taking road trips with Joe and their friends to Reno, as well as trips to visit friends and relatives in other parts of the United States.  In her later years, she loved having friends drop by for coffee and a visit, which often turned into staying for lunch or dinner.  Frances loved a good game of Scrabble, working crossword and jigsaw puzzles, watching the neighborhood activities through her kitchen window, taking care of her beautiful yard, and especially – having her children come to visit! Sundays were her favorite days which included church and then breakfast afterwards with her dear friends. 

Frances is survived by her son, Joe, and her daughters Carolyn (Fletcher), Judith (Divvens), Theresa (Schultz), and Sue (Schofield), her grandchildren Christopher, Philip, Kristin, Kimberly, Tanner and Steven, and her great-grandchildren, Chloe, Hailey, and Natalyn and brother, Tom. 

Frances was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Norman Shensky, parents Anton and Anna (Katich ) Krilich, Sisters Mary and Burton Joyce, Anna ( Carl ) Joers, Martha and Conrad Sundstrom, and Rosemary Krilich.

Our mother provided that lasting connection with our family heritage and her passing will provide fond memories and a whole new batch of stories which can never be fact checked.

We will miss you Mom,

Rest in peace and joy.

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