Rose Fraser

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. - Rose Fraser, 93, of Hendersonville, passed away on Monday (July 23, 2018) at Elizabeth House.

Rose was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1924, to Gladys and David Ames Van Kleeck. She was raised in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and attended business college in Albany, N.Y.

In 1945, she married Sgt. William Fraser, and they settled in his hometown of Tonawanda, N.Y. to raise three children.

Rose worked as a legal secretary. Later, they moved to Olean, N.Y., where she assisted her husband in running Fraser Claims Service. After moving to Hendersonville in 1983, she worked at Kanuga Conference Center.

Rose was a devout Christian. Besides her various parishes, she served on the board of the Diocese of Buffalo. Her time and interests were dedicated to bible study, reading and volunteer service in her church and community.

She was an exceptional mother, wife and homemaker.

Rose is survived by a brother, David B. Van Kleeck of Vero Beach, Fla.; a son, William D. Fraser of Cuba, N.Y.; two daughters, Janet (James) Thompson and Ellen Hewlett, both of Hendersonville; two granddaughters, Lindsay (Brice) Heitman of Winston-Salem and Kristen (Cody) Pokigo of Lackawanna, N.Y.; three grandsons, James (Alondra) Thompson of Greenbelt, Md., Matt Hewlett of Jersey City, N.J. and Bradley (Mary Henry) Thompson of Memphis, Tenn.; and four great-grandchildren, Neely and Kellen Thompson, Leah Heitman and Maggie Pokigo.

Rose is preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and by her sister, Ruth Klimas of Fletcher, N.C.

The family received friends from 1 p.m. until the memorial service, which was held at 2 p.m. Thursday (July 26, 2018) at St. James Episcopal Church, officiated by the Reverend Chrisite Olsen.

Memorial donations can be made to the Association of Camps Farthest Out, 901 Hawleyville Road, Binghamton, NY 13903 or the United Way of Cattaraugus County, 807 W. State St., Olean, NY 14760.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of the arrangements.