Francesca Park "Fran" Henderson

Francesca "Fran" Park Henderson was born April 4, 1943, in San Francisco to Ford and Constance Park. Fran passed away at home in Salinas, California, June 7, 2024.
Fran came to Salinas with her Mother and brother, Stephen Park, in 1949, to live with her grandparents, John and Rosa DePorto on their ranch at 78 Blanco Road. Fran thrived on the family farm living with her Aunts Mary and Dorothy and her uncle, John DePorto. Fran attended Spring School on Hitchcock Road, where her mother,brother and Aunt Dorothy also attended.
While at Spring School Fran was active in 4H, raising championship sheep. Then she attended junior and high school in town at Palma High School from where she graduated in 1961. Fran enrolled in Hartnell College and received an AA degree. When Fran met Bob Henderson he became the love of her life and they married in the mid 1970's. Bob, Fran, and Bob's sons, Scott and Mark, became the Henderson family.
Fran decided to follow a career in law, which she was well suited for. After an entry level position with a local law firm, Fran found a professional home with Pioda, Bryan, Ames, and Helfrich.. There she became a certified family law paralegal working closely with Attorneys Helfrich and Bryan. Fran was an active paralegal until approximately 2019.
Before her retirement Fran took what was a lifelong interest in sewing, knitting, and crocheting, and became an accomplished quilter in her own right, winning multiple first and second prizes for her quilts at different fairs in the area. Fran had an active quilting group that met at her house at least once per week. They attended quilting classes together, and shared using Fran's top of the line amazing sewing machines. As it often goes with women who sew together they became good friends, having lunch together many days, meeting up at Fran's home.
Fran was preceded in death by husband, Bob Henderson and son Mark Henderson. She is survived by son Scott Henderson (Stephanie), granddaughters Laurel of Angels Camp, and Chandler Westphal of San Francisco, granddaughter Taylor and grandson Adam, of Carmichael, (mother Amy Henderson), brother Stephen Park (Carol) of Ukiah, nephew Matt Park (Ligaya) Santa Rosa, and niece Frieda Park of Oakland, Grandniece and grandnephew, Malaya Park and Henry Park (Matt and Ligaya). Fran had many cousins living in the Salinas Valley area: Tom and Jeanette Kever and family, Leslie and Dennis Ben and family, and Kathy Kever (Santa Rosa). The cousins met every year the day after Thanksgiving for a large leftovers feast at Fran's comfortable home on Romie Lane. Fran will be missed by dear friend and care manager par excellence, Jeanne Hughes, and devoted friend, Jill Low and, Jingles, the dog who always got a warm welcome, smiles, and a good scratch from Fran.
A visitation is scheduled at Struve and LaPorte on Monday, June 17, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. till 12:30 and a graveside ceremony and burial at Garden of Memories at 1:00 p.m. A memorial gathering scheduled at a later date will be announced in the Salinas Californian and on the Struve and Laporte website.