Frances Jamele Chalmers

1912 - 2014

Frances Jamele Chalmers

Virginia Beach - Frances J. Chalmers (Fudge or Fudgie) passed away peacefully at her home on December 3, 2014. Fudge was three months shy of turning one hundred and three. She was predeceased by her parents, Luigi and Lena Jamele of Waterbury, CT, two sisters and two brothers and her dearly beloved husband of sixty years, Captain Norman E. Chalmers, USN, Ret., and her son-in-law, Captain Bruce C. McLaughlin, USN Ret.

She was born in Waterbury, CT on March 3, 1912. Her parents arrived in this country from Celenza Valfortore, Italy. Her family was large, happy, and a hub for all to gather to enjoy family, friends, and delicious food.

She met Norm in New York City and married him on May 3, 1941. Off they went to Waikiki, Hawaii where his ship, the USS Curtiss, was stationed and what a grand time they had until December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombs started to explode. The USS Curtiss was hit by a Japanese plane crashing on its decks during the initial attack. Norm returned to his ship and Fudge ran to the hills with many other women and children to hide, not knowing what was going to happen. She was evacuated on Christmas Day, 1941, to the mainland with many other service wives and their children. She returned to Waterbury, CT to live with her family. Fudge did not see her husband again until March, 1943. Norm served on three ships in the Pacific that were crippled by Japanese dive bombers, including the USS McFarland, as its chief engineer.

Fudge's life with Norm was a true adventure and filled with love, laughter, and some hard times. She traveled the world with him and loved every minute of it. The family moved to Norfolk, VA in the early fifties and then to VA Beach in the early sixties. Her favorite adventure with Norm and the family was the three years spent living in London, England and traveling first class to and fro on the SS United States.

She was a true Republican and voted by absentee ballot in the last Presidential election at age of one hundred. She never missed voting from Wendall Wilkie to Mitt Romney.

Fudge was a gentle and kind lady and a wonderful wife and mother. She will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her son Hap Chalmers and his wife, Becky; their daughter Annie Pelphrey and her husband, Kevin, and great granddaughter, Madison Beale, and great grandson, Christopher Beale; and their son Cameron Chalmers; her daughter, Sande McLaugh-lin and her son Chalmers Bay McLaughlin and his wife Becky; her daughter, F. Dea Chalmers and her daughter, Shelley McDonnell and her husband, Frank, and two great granddaughters, Ryleigh and Raegan McDonnell.

We want to thank Fudge's caregiver and good friend, Isabel Smith for all that she did to make her comfortable and for the laughter that they shared. Also a special thanks to Athena Twine for her compassion and all that she did to make our mother comfortable.

Arrangements will be made by H.D. Oliver Funeral Home on Laskin Road, VA Beach and the burial will be private at Nimmo United Methodist Church. Donations can be made to the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad, 740 Virginia Beach Blvd., VA Beach, VA 23451. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.