Obituary of Frances "Fran" Vogel

January 1, 1943 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
February 6, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

Frances Vogel of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, February 6, 2023 at the age of 80 years. 

Fran was born shortly after midnight on January 1, 1943, destined to be the life of the party. She grew up in Saskatoon with her older brother Tommy and her younger sister Diana. When she was sixteen, Fran struck out on her own moving to Winnipeg to work at Birks and eventually moved to Calgary where she met and married Gerry and started a family.

Growing up with mom, running the show left little time to get into trouble, but when things did go awry, “let’s call your mom” was always the solution. Mom was always there for hockey, figure skating, baseball, soccer, Brownies, dance and music lessons. She spent a lot of time ensuring that camping trips, dirt biking, ski trips and weekends snowmobiling were a HUGE success. She was always volunteering at school and in the community, helping to get programs rolling at the new Rundle Community Centre back in the day. She did all this while working a full-time job, running the family business and usually taking classes at SAIT on top of it all.

Mom remembered everyone she met. She touched many lives, our friends and their families, work colleagues and the many friends and neighbours she maintained contact with. Her phone book is full of notes, birthdays, anniversaries, kids’ birthdays. She was famous for handing you an envelope full of articles she clipped from the newspaper and magazines….‘It made me think of you’ moments.  Her home was always full of family and friends and kids. She loved to entertain, cook up a huge meal and have refreshing beverage ready for everyone. Garage parties and nights on the patio around the firepit with hot dogs and marshmallows were regular events growing up, you never left her house hungry or having to walk home after dark. She could fit as many as twelve kids in her car for soccer and volleyball games and a trunk full of camping gear for Brownie camp too.

Road trips and adventures were always a possibility…When we were kids, it meant some Hawkins Cheezies and lawn chairs beside a river somewhere and evolved into wine touring with her (adult) granddaughters.

Granny was the master of executing the elaborate practical joke. Many an April Fools morning phone call created vivid memories!

Fran spent her ‘Retirement’ years (when she was only working part time) volunteering at the YMCA, sitting on her condo board, traveling with friends and being very active with The Red Hat Ladies and Crown Jewels.  She made a ton of great friends and was always busy. Mom was so proud of her family, her home was covered in pictures of her children, their children, nieces and nephews and lately, the pictures of her great-grandchildren were becoming more prominent than any others!

She could not have been more thrilled to be Granny Franny to Charlotte, Sarah and Byron but being great-granny Franny (GG) was her Favourite. She always had a toy or book and candy ready for a visit with Barrett and Emma. She was tickled to be a step-grandma to Melody, Nathan and Jake and a surrogate grandma to Teigan and Tayler. When she couldn’t have your kid for the weekend, she’d settle for babysitting your dog.

Mom leaves behind many lifelong friends. Some of the things we’ve heard were ‘She was like a mom to me’ ‘She kept me in line when I needed it’ ‘She was one in a million, no, one in a zillion!’ ‘She kept me on my toes’ ‘I truly adored her’ ‘She was so kind to me’ ‘She created so many great childhood memories for me’

Granny Fran is survived by her brother, Tom and his wife Jacqy Fenty; sister, Diana and husband Bill Sinden; son, Todd Vogel and Jackie; granddaughter, Charlotte Jarvis, her husband Wes and their son Barrett; grandson, Byron; daughter, Debra McCracken and Frank; granddaughter, Sarah Ramsay and her husband Andrew and their daughter Emma; her son, Randall Lloyd; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

Fran passed away peacefully on Monday, February 6, 2023 after spending the whole weekend with her family by her side. Mom did not want a formal service, just a gathering of family and friends to tell some stories and visit with each other. We are working on a plan to Celebrate Fran late spring, early summer and we will update here with the details as well as be in touch with as many as we can by email and phone. 

Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

Todd, Debra and their families would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that has supported us through this tough time with phone calls, messages, hugs and flowers. Your memories and kind words really helped.

In living memory of Frances Vogel, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.