Frances (nee Biland) Zech entered eternal life on May 1, 2012. Frances was born on September 23, 1924 to Alfred and Doris Biland, the third of 13 children. After graduating from Algonac High School in 1936, she worked for Chris Craft Corp. in Algonac and an insurance company in Detroit. She was a lifelong member of St. Catherines Church, Algonac, and married Joseph A. Zech, Jr. (Deceased 1993) on September 23, 1944. Frances was a devoted wife and loving mother to nine children: daughters, Dianne Lovett, Joanne (Clifford) Redfield, and Elizabeth (Douglas) Roberson; sons, Joseph III, Thomas (Bonnie), David (Cheryl), Richard (Joan), and Leon (Crystal). Predeceased by a son, Lawrence, and daughters-in-law, Susan and Candace. Frances is survived by her sisters: June (Donald) Joachim, Catherine Hoover, and Lucille (Lawrence) Avers; brothers: Alfred (Janice), Joseph (Judy), Paul (Judy), sisters-in-law, Theresa and Mary Agnes and brother-in-law Samuel DeGueissippe. Preceding her in death were sisters: Emily and Mary DeGueissippe and brothers: Leonard, Edward, Walter, and Wesley Biland; sisters-in-law, Ann and Carolyn. Also surviving Frances are 22, grandchildren: Dr. Jeanne Lovett; Joseph IV (Norma); Mary (Joseph) Price, Sara (R.J.) Winter, Jennifer (Nicholas) Richmond and Amanda (Ryan) Cayce; Jeffrey Zech and Tara (Mark) Bradshaw; Candida, Joshua, and Rachel Zech; Christine, Michael (Crystal), Clifford (Kelly) and Scott Redfield; Heather Curry, Leon (Jill), Nicholas (Margaret) and Stephanie (Shawn) Maudlin; Jasmine and Amber Roberson. Jayson Zech preceded his grandmother in death. Frances has 35 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She had a great devotion to Fr. Solanus and contributed regularly to various missions and funds. She found a new vocation late in life cutting and sorting Campbell Soup labels, VG Receipts and Box Tops for Education for Holy Cross Catholic School. The family would like to thank the kind nurses and techs at the Port Huron Fresenius Dialysis Center and the many friends she made there over the last nine years Frances was a woman of great faith and love. Her collection of rosaries is left to her grandchildren. Mrs. Zech will be instate at 10:30 am Saturday May 5, 2012 with Mass at 11:00 am in the Our Lady on the River Parish St. Catherines Catholic Church, Algonac. Visitation will be from 1-4 and 6-9 pm with a Scripture service at 7:00 pm Friday in the Gilbert Funeral Home, Algonac. Burial will be in the St. Catherines Cemetery. www.gilbertfuneralhomeinc.com

Published in The Times Herald on May 2, 2012