FRANCES HOUTERMAN

FRANCES HOUTERMAN Frances Houterman passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at her home in Manhattan Beach, California. She was surrounded by her family when her courageous battle with cancer finally came to an end. Frances was born in New York City in 1943. She was raised and schooled in Manhattan and became the consummate "Manhattanite." Upon graduation from Pace University, Frances began her long and stellar career at IBM as a programmer in White Plains, New York. Frances, known by all as Fran, transferred within IBM to Los Angeles. Fran advanced rapidly at IBM as she took up marketing responsibilities - ultimately becoming the Regional Marketing Manager for IBM's entire Western Region. Fran married Michael Houterman in 1969 and they made their home in Manhattan Beach, California. It was there she and Mike raised their three children. Fran worked tirelessly to balance the roles of matriarch of a busy family and her management responsibilities at IBM. Her facility for organization and attention to detail kept her family and her career thriving. In 2000, she and Mike built a home in Santa Fe. It was here that she was able to turn her mind to more creative pursuits, including her love of gardening and crafting. She also gave of herself to charitable causes in service of the Santa Fe community. Children always held a special place in her heart which inspired her charitable work with the Buckaroo Ball and the Court Appointed Special Advocates program. She is survived and will be missed dearly by her husband, Michael, of 47 years, her three children, Justin, Elise and Damon, as well as, her seven much loved grandchildren. Frances was a devote Catholic and was active in her faith and the faith community of American Martyrs Catholic Church in Manhattan Beach where a funeral mass celebrating her life was held on December 23, 2016.