Frances Charlotte Kowalski

No matter what she was doing, Fran Kowalski was the heartbeat of wherever she was. She had a warm and infectious smile coupled with a contagious laughter that brought such happiness to those around her. Being a mother was a role tailor made just for her and she would do anything for the children she loved more than life itself. She was outgoing with an unmistakable sparkle for life that just made others feel at ease. There was nothing like one of Frans hugs, and she had a way of making everyone feel as though they were her best friend. Taken from her loved ones too soon, she will be dearly missed while the memories she leaves behind will remain near and dear to the hearts of all who were blessed to feel her touch. It was with great joy that a young couple from Posen, Michigan, welcomed the summer season in 1949 as they were eagerly awaited the birth of their third child. Their wait was over on July 10th when Frances Charlotte made her arrival in nearby Alpena. She was raised by her parents, Louis Robert and Irene Eleanore (Kwapiszewski) Kowalski, in the family home alongside her older siblings, Carol and Elona, and her younger brother, Matthew. Her sisters spoiled her rotten and always wanted to rock her but she wouldnt let them! She was of Polish descent, and their heritage was something that they were proud of. It was a part of their lives and the surrounding community. In many ways Fran experienced a typical childhood. Her father worked as a farmer while her mother was a busy homemaker. As a young girl she was involved in the local 4-H and a student at the local school. She loved learning and dreamed of traveling far from her home town. As she got older she babysat her nieces and nephews. She traveled to Kentucky for a 4-H student exchange and really enjoyed the adventure. While at Posen High School, Fran was immersed in her school life and she was cheerleader. She earned the nickname Toots which stayed with her. Whenever she went back for a visit that is what everyone called her. Her nieces and nephews still affectionately refer to her as Aunt Toots. She went on to graduate from high school in 1967 and later earned her associates degree with an interest in business. Life was forever changed for Toots when she met Theodore P. Kaszubowski. With a desire to build a life together Toots and Ted were married at St. Casimir Church in Posen. Together they were blessed with two children, Tisha and Todd. They moved a few times and then settled into a home known as the party house as the whole family regularly got together to hang out, play cards and sing. They played music together a lot and it is a fond memory for her daughter. Fran was a tender mother who had the ability to make her daughter feel better about anything and everything. Tisha Lee treasured the kisses on her cheek that her mother so freely gave, and she also knew that Fran was so proud of everything she did. In 1984, Fran married William D. Lintz, Jr. in Milford. With this union Fran was blessed with the addition of Bills children, William D. III and Barbara, in her life whom she loved dearly. Bill and Barb both lived in several different places and Fran would visit as much as she could. She enjoyed watching them grow up to get married and have children of their own. She was very proud to be called their mom. Although her family was first and foremost in her life, Fran also loved her work. During her early years in the workforce she worked as a waitress and bartender, and later worked as a legal secretary in a law office. She really enjoyed the legal field and often thought she should go back to it. After marrying Bill, Fran became the vice president of Nor-East Equipment, which was a great fit. She really enjoyed being in management - and she was great at it, too. She and Bill lived in Las Vegas where she worked at Bechtal Nevada. She moved back to Michigan and worked at Durr Systems for several years. Most recently Fran had been working as a community association manager for Kramer-Triad Management in Ann Arbor. As her children got older they were still a vital part of Frans life. She was deeply saddened with the death of her son, Todd, as a result of a motorcycle accident in 1994. Her daughter, Barb passed away June 25, 2013, after a valiant battle with breast cancer. Fran was thrilled to become a grandmother, and her grandkids, Sarah and Jacob brought her so much joy. She made a point to visit Tisha and her family every Sunday, making priceless memories along the way. Of course she couldnt resist reminding her daughter at times that paybacks are hell! Fran enjoyed taking her grandkids to a movie or out for pizza just to spend time together. Throughout her life Fran embraced things she enjoyed. She could sing anything and usually started singing if you said a word that reminded her of a song. Then everyone would join in. Fran loved to travel north and spend time with her sister Carol and brother-in-law Julian playing Dominos and visiting lifelong friends. She and her sister Lonie had many adventures. They were always doing something fun. Her brother Matt lived in NY but she spoke to him all the time and they were very close. She loved shopping and spending time with her friends. She took a canoeing trip every year with a group who called themselves The River Goddesses. Frans dream trip would have been to Tuscany, Italy. All who knew Fran Kowalski would agree that she was special in countless ways. She was the sort of person who made everything better, and she could light up a room like no other. She had a wicked sense of humor and was quick with a great comeback that left people begging for more. Fran remained positive about life, even when times were hard, and the well-known saying, live, laugh, love was her lifelong motto. When she made a decision, she stuck with it, and she never let life get the best of her. A beloved mother, sister, aunt and friend, Fran will be dearly missed and forever treasured. Frances C. Kowalski, of Plymouth, died suddenly on Sunday, August 4, 2013. Fran is survived by her daughter, Tisha (Tom) Walker of Farmington Hills and their children, Sarah and Jacob; son, William (Lisa) Lintz III of Arkansas and their daughter, Julia; son-in-law, Jimmy Smith of Indiana and his daughter, Phoebe; grandson, Anthony Guttersohn; three siblings, Carol (Julian) Mulka of Posen, Elona (Roger) Wirgau of Sterling Heights, and Matthew (Sally) Kowalski of New York; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Fran was preceded in death by her son, Todd B. Kaszubowski; and daughter, Barbara E. Smith in 2013. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 10 at Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 S. Main St., Plymouth. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until the service begins. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory.