FRANCES B. KETCHAM

KETCHAM FRANCES BECK KETCHAM 3/17/1919 - 2/26/2013 Frances was born in San Francisco on March 17, 1919, and graduated from San Francisco Secretarial School in 1937 with highest honors. She accepted an offer with the Civil Service Commission as Executive Secretary after passing both the state and federal examinations as highest qualified, 126 wpm on a manual typewriter with no mistakes! She moved to Washington DC in 1940. In that same year, married Harry L. "Tex." Ketcham. They resided in Annandale, Virginia, for 68 years and raised four children. As a founding member of St Michael's parish, she provided a venue for the Pastor's organizational meetings in their home and used her professional skills to serve 12 years as the St Michael's Elementary School Secretary. She opened and ran the St. Michael's Store for religious articles, and served on the Altar Committee preparing coverings, linens and flowers for the altar every Sunday Fran and Tex traveled extensively for 39 years throughout the world, collecting numerous foreign cookbooks to prepare cultural dishes every Sunday so her family would appreciate a wide variety of cuisine! Fran's charitable work included years of serving as an accountant in the Annandale INOVA Fairfax Hospital for their thrift store. She served as Leaders for the National Girl Scouts of America and started the local branch of Brownies. Her many hobbies included: oil and French glass painting and complex needlework [ including verbal :-) ]. Her favorite pastime was tailoring for herself, her girls and her grandchildren. She loved gardening fresh herbs, and having a flower cutting garden. Fran was a gourmet cook and loved entertaining family and friends. She is preceded in death most recently by her husband of 72 years, and her parents Mary and John Seywald, her brothers Richard and Frank, and grandchildren Ricky Venglik and Myra Frances Ketcham. She is survived by her children, Jonnie (Rich) Venglik, Pat (Suzanne) Ketcham, Paul (Lourdes) Ketcham, and Kathleen (Eric) Berg; and eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Visitation and Mass - Wednesday, March 6, 10 a.m. held at St Michael's Catholic Church in Annandale, VA, Followed by Interment at 1 p.m. at National Memorial Park, Falls Church, VA. Flowers, or contributions in lieu of, can be sent to St. Michael's Building Fund, or Annandale Volunteer Fire Department.Flowers, or contributions in lieu of, can be sent to St. Michael's Building Fund, or Annandale Volunteer Fire Department.