Frances E. Wetzel

Frances E. Wetzel, 80, of Westminster, MD, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 8, 2025. She was born on December 7, 1944, in Westminster, MD, the daughter of the late Lester F. and Margaret I. (Caulford) Stem.
Fran was a lifelong member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church, where she dedicated much of her life to serving others. She was a devoted and loving wife to the late Kenneth E. Wetzel, and a cherished mother to her four daughters: Kathryn E. Wolf (Tony) of East Berlin, PA; Christine I. Wetzel of Westminster, MD; Melissa A. Beaghan (Jeff) of Westminster, MD; and M. Nicole Wetzel of Jacksonville, FL.
Fran had a heart of service and a brilliant mind. She was a teacher at St. John's Catholic School for many years, where she touched the lives of countless children. She also worked at Carroll Hall for over 15 years, providing compassionate care to mental health patients. After her time at Carroll Hall, Fran retired from McDaniel College, where she served as a lab assistant in the chemistry department.
Throughout her life, Fran loved spending time with her family. She had a special fondness for camping trips with her husband and grandchildren, and her home was always filled with warmth and love. In her spare time, she enjoyed quilting, solving puzzles, playing games, and, above all, praying. Every morning, she would begin her day with a cup of black coffee and a prayer, which she often shared with her family and friends.
Fran was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth E. Wetzel, her daughter, Jennifer Wetzel, her son-in-law, Jeff B. Dell, and her sisters Cecelia and Willanna.
She is survived by her daughters Kathryn, Christine, Melissa, and Nicole, her grandchildren Jennifer B. Brewer (Kyle), Kristin E. Dell (Jake), Madison I. Hutchins, Lillian G. Beaghan, Nicholas H. Beaghan, Kolbe A. Beaghan, Aiden T. Beaghan, and Anneliese M. Beaghan, and her great-granddaughter Saylor N. R. Brewer. She is also survived by her sisters Amelia Edythe Gary and Juanita Stem.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 am February 14, 2025 with Fr. Andrew DeFusco officiating, at St. Johns Roman Catholic Church, 43 Monroe St, Westminster, MD 21157 with a burial to follow at Meadow Branch Cemetery in Westminster, MD.
Fran's legacy of love, faith, and service will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. Memorial contributions can be made to BridgingLife Hospice in Westminster MD, or to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute.