Frances Brooks Obituary (2021) – Oshkosh, WI

Frances Martha Brooks

January 14, 1926 – August 11, 2021

Frances Martha Brooks, 95 years old, died on August 11, 2021.

Frances was born on January 14, 1926 in Racine, WI as the daughter of Frank and Anna (Posieczek) Doperalski.

She married Everett Brooks on November 7, 1953. They were married for 64 years.

Frances graduated from Washington Park High School in Racine. In her young adult years, she liked to go dancing with her friends. During one of these dances she met her husband Everett. Everett and Frances lived in Racine while raising their family. Frances had worked at Western Printing, Webster Electric (making weapons parts for warships used in World War II), Master Appliance, Foster Forbes (in Burlington) and in later years at West Lawn Cemetery, where they made sprays and wreaths for the Christmas time established. However, her main occupation was housewife for her husband and children.

When Everett and Frances retired, they moved to their cottage on the Fox River. They also made some trips during their retirement years, including several trips to Connecticut, Florida, and Arizona. Frances was a member of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church, where she made wonderful homemade desserts for her Lent Fish Frys well into her late 80s. Frances has always enjoyed being a housewife and was very fond of her husband and four children.

Raised up during the Depression years, she knew how to get along with what she had and how to put a dollar down. She taught all of her children the value of this, and she taught them not to take things for granted. Her hobbies included sewing, knitting, cooking and baking, including making wonderful birthday cakes and cakes. She always made sure she had homemade cookies in the cookie jar and a nice dessert for dinner every night. She loved hanging laundry on her clotheslines outside. She did this until her 90s. Frances always tried to stay active. In her later years, she was seen by her neighbors walking up and down the street with her rollator, wearing off the wheels! Frances enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was a loving mother and grandmother. Frances loved all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all her heart.

Frances precedes her husband Everett in death; her parents: Frank and Anna Doperalski; Brothers: Felix, Raymond, Alex, Louis and Walter Doperalski; and her sister Marion Lascelle.

Frances leaves behind her children: Ken (Sharon) Brooks, Nancy (Paul) Rhyner, Jim (Elizabeth) Brooks, Laura (Bob) Dempsey. She also leaves 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express special thanks to the staff at the Courtyard Assisted Living Facility in Oshkosh for their kindness and wonderful care for Frances. A big thank you also to the team at St. Croix Hospice for the great, sincere and empathetic care.

A private family reunion is planned.

Published by Racine Journal Times on August 15, 2021.