Francille Susan Willis

Francille Susan Willis, age 79, passed away peacefully on a quiet, sunny Sunday afternoon, October 12, 2025, following a sudden four-month episode of Alzheimer's disease. She will be missed every day.

Fran was born June 14, 1946 at Lutheran Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio to the late Eugene Joseph and Lucille Eleanor Krause Polk.

Francille attended St. Timothy elementary school and was a 1964 graduate of Marymount High School, both in Garfield Heights.

Following high school, Fran enrolled in Cleveland State University where she received her degree in English.

Paying her own way through college, necessitated her working full time as a secretary at Booz-Allen Hamilton, a well-known, international consulting and management company in Cleveland.  During her college days she also worked for entrepreneur Harry Figgie and the Iron Workers Union.

Fran's years of business experience followed her as she successfully consulted and worked numerous IT and consulting firms, such as the international Cap Gemini Sogeti out of France, and Systemations. Her background allowed her the confidence to eventually open her own consulting firm, Willis and Associates, where she worked as a recruiter for various corporate entities. She always said her most enjoyable assignment was the recruiting of IT specialists, back in the early days of information technology. She traveled across the country to various university campuses and interviewed early IT candidates. To keep her recommendations and opinions of possible hires classified, she kept all her notes in the old Gregg shorthand system, at which she was quite proficient.

In October, 1967, while visiting a friend at the Brown-Forward Funeral Home in Shaker Heights, she met her future husband, Donald, (then an apprentice embalmer and undertaker) who was leaving to go to supper and happened to pass by her in the funeral home parking lot, where they were introduced by a mutual friend. That chance meeting led to their first official date together on November 1, 1967.

By January, 1968, Don had enlisted for four years in the US Air Force. He left for basic training in February, but kept in touch with Fran through the mail. Being subsequently stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a surgical medic and embalmer in Fairborn, Ohio, allowed Don to periodically make the long, pre-continuous free-way drive to Garfield Heights for week-end visits. They were married on August 1, 1970 at St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Garfield Heights. As Don still had a year-and-a-half to go in his enlistment, they were fortunate enough to find a suitable rental for Fran which was conveniently located immediately behind her parent's house on the next street over. She remained there, while attending Cleveland State and working at Booz-Allen Hamilton until his enlistment was up. At that point, February, 1972, he returned to Garfield Heights, rejoined the staff at Brown-Forward Funeral Home, and in August of that year, they purchased their house in Lyndhurst. Two years later, a new addition to the family, a beloved daughter, Kristi-Ann arrived and their family was complete.

Fran enjoyed reading mystery novels, dancing, eating out, golfing, her flower garden, day trips with her husband, sitting on their cozy front porch with a Jack and Pepsi in her hand, and talking with friends and neighbors. A dog lover at heart, her home echoed with the patter of little four-legged creatures for most of her life. Always a spiritual explorer, Fran became interested in Astrology, Tarot, alternative religions and esoteric literature. She belonged to the Lake County Astrological Society, where she acted as Secretary.

Her tastes in music were eclectic: traditional 50s and 60s rock-and-roll, country fiddle, classical, Irish and Scottish dance tunes and bagpipes. She enjoyed dining at the Severance Restaurant prior to attending a concert by the Cleveland Orchestra.

She was active in business in her later years, being on the Board of Directors of several companies, active with the Urban Land Institute, working on re-furbishing the Euclid Corridor and the Cleveland Art Museum. She was a member of the Scottish Heritage Association (formerly Clan Grant) and on the Board of the English Speaking Union.

She is survived by her beloved husband Donald of 55 years, her darling and wonderful daughter, Kristi-Ann (Clay Lutsch), beautiful grand-daughter, Elke Corinne Lutsch of Grove City, Ohio; sisters Jean Polk Horejs (Ed), of Broadview Heights, Carol Ann Toth (the late Jim) of Sudbury, Ohio, Nieces Lynzie (Chicago) and Suzie Horejs (Broadview Heights) and nephews, Jimmy and Jack Toth, both of the Columbus area.

Calling hours will be observed at the Brown-Forward Funeral Home, 17022 Chagrin Boulevard, Shaker Heights, on Sunday, October 19, from noon to 3 p.m. Funeral service will be held immediately following at 3 p.m.

I would like to thank the wonderful management, nurses and staff at Arden Courts, in Chagrin Falls for their compassionate and loving expressions towards Francille and myself that made her brief, but comfortable stay at their facility, appreciated. We will always remember your kindness.

Also, many kind praises for the nurses at Traditions Hospice of Highland Heights. The level of caring, compassion and kindness exhibited by each member cannot be appreciated enough. It was beyond belief and most appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to either Arden Courts Memory Care of Chagrin Falls, 8100 East Washington Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023 or Traditions Health Hospice and Palliative Care, 677 Alpha Drive, Highland Heights, Ohio 44143.