Frances Marie (Coates) McCannell

Mrs. Frances McCannell (Coates), loving mother of Randy, Karen, Gary, Brad, Kevin, Heather, Tim, and Laurie, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at the Melita Health Centre on Monday, January 13, 2025 at the age of 90. Eleven months since she experienced her stroke with strength and grace through the journey.

Frances Marie McCannell (Coates) was born on October 22, 1934 in the back seat of her parent’s car at Grahamdale, MB. Frances lived in the Roblin District with her parents until 1946 when the family moved to the Elva district where they farmed. She attended both Roblin and Elva schools. She taught school for only part of a year due to medical reasons. She worked at the Royal Bank in Melita from 1953 to 1957, at which time she married John William McCannell on April 3 in Melita. They lived with John’s mom and sister until the fall of 1957 then they moved to the present McCannell farm, SW 36-2-28.  Frances and John farmed and raised their five sons Randy, Gary, Brad, Kevin and Tim and three daughters Karen, Heather, and Laurie in the Elva area.

Frances’ pride and joy were sewing, knitting, crocheting and bowling for many years. She enjoyed Scrabble, cards, Sudoku, word finds, puzzles, and meat draws at the Legion. She spent many hours with and watching her kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren figure skate, dance, play baseball and hockey.

Frances is survived by her loving children, son, Randy (Tammy) and children Marcy (Grant Duncalfe) and Chad (Megan); daughter, Karen Strutt (Rick Kilfoyle) and children Amber (John Rutherford), Kristen (Tyson Eckel), and Mitch (Mikayla Belhumeur); son, Gary (Linda) child Ashley (Ryan Steffensen); daughter in law, Shirley (Neil Gobelle) children Taylor (Brad’s son) and Sydney; son, Kevin (Carla) and daughters Shayna, Bailey, Hallie, and Hannah; daughter, Heather (Rob McCutcheon) and children Keesha (Eric Higham) and Zachary (Emily Karrouze); son, Tim (JoAnn) and children Rachelle (Quin Hobbs) and Shane; daughter, Laurie (Brent Dalziel) children Brad (Lily) and Wade. 

Fourteen great grandchildren: Daylan & Shayla Duncalfe, Austin & Autumn McCannell, Slade & Jayce Steffensen, Eli & Coen Eckel, Isla & Liam Rutherford, Bria & Emery (Frances Ferne) Strutt, Lexi Dalziel, Clementine Karrouze-McCutcheon, and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John William McCannell (2022); son, Brad McCannell; great granddaughter, Rilynn Duncalfe; parents, Thomas & Ethel (Nichols) Coates; brother, Alvin & Marg Coates; sister, Sylvia & Glen Holmes; sister, Joyce & Ervin Steinwand; nephew Neil Holmes; in laws, Malcolm & Catherine McCannell; brother-in-law, Donald McCannell (La Verne); sisters-in-law, Margaret & Elsie McCannell; friend, Monica Wiemes.

A public funeral service to celebrate Frances’ life was held at the Pierson Community Hall, Pierson, MB. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. The interment followed at the Pierson Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Frances can be directed to a charitable cause of one's choice in the Pierson/Melita area, Melita Palliative Care Fund, Box 459, Melita, MB. R0M 1L0, or the Pierson Cemetery Fund, Box 100, Pierson, MB. R0M 1S0.

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