Frances Elise

Beisel

“

Fran lived a life marked by warmth, resilience, and deep devotion to the people she loved.

Frances Elise “Fran” Beisel passed away on November 1, 2026, in Longview, Washington, at the age of 93. Born on September 30, 1933, in Queens, New York, Fran lived a life marked by warmth, resilience, and deep devotion to the people she loved. She passed away on her own terms, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, welcome, and steady love.

One of the defining moments of Fran’s life came when she married her beloved husband, Richard “Dick” Beisel, on August 8. The very next day, she boarded a bus in New York with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law and made her way to the Pacific Northwest, the region she would come to love so dearly. Fran and Dick shared 65 years of marriage before his passing, building a life together filled with family, laughter, and enduring partnership. In their younger years, the two bowled on a team together and always had so much fun.

Fran believed that to keep going, you had to keep moving, and she lived by that outlook. Even in the face of physical problems in the last couple of years, she was never one to sit idle. She loved to garden and had a true green thumb. She enjoyed going to new places, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and Starbucks was always a favorite stop. Depoe Bay held a special place in her heart, especially the chance to watch the whales from the World Mark property balcony. Wednesday nights were another simple joy, as she loved settling in to watch all of the Chicago shows on television.

She found happiness in the comforts of home and in sharing with others. Fran loved baking, and everyone loved her cookies. Her spaghetti sauce was legendary to those who knew her, and she made unforgettable spaghetti and lasagna dinners. If asked her favorite food, the answer was always pizza, something her family believed was tied to the years she spent happily working at Pietro’s Pizza from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon while Dick was at work and the children were at school. She loved that job and the rhythm it brought to her days.

“

She passed away on her own terms, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, welcome, and steady love.

Fran’s greatest pride was always her family—her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was glad to lend a hand however she could, including helping her children with their work at Burger King. When Ken was a district manager and his sister worked in the office, Fran would go around on Monday mornings collecting weekly paperwork. She came to know many of the workers and was genuinely happy to be of help.

To her children, Fran was a wonderful mother and a comforting presence, someone who could sit and visit anywhere. She would always rather receive a phone call than a text. She was caring, loved her people deeply, and believed wholeheartedly in forgiveness. She liked hugs, and her children knew her as the best mom to love. When they were growing up, she welcomed their friends into the home with open arms. Cookies were baked, games were played, music filled the house (often John Denver, Fran's favorite), and those friends felt so at ease that everyone called her Mom.

Fran also had a tender affection for animals, especially her beloved dog, Shadow. He was a lap dog, and she loved cuddling with him. Her children often teased that she loved Shadow more than them, a joke that became part of the family’s treasured memories. She also had a gift for listening. Family and friends knew that if they needed a kind heart and a patient ear, Fran would be there.

She is survived by her daughters, Sheryl Lydon and her husband, Pat Lydon, and Terri Karnofski and her husband, Dean Karnofski; by her son, Ken Beisel and his wife, Carrie Beisel; by her brother-in-law, Dave Beisel; and by her best friend, Darlene Huntington. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Dick” Beisel.

“

Fran believed that to keep going, you had to keep moving, and she lived by that outlook.

Fran will be remembered for the way she made people feel welcomed, cared for, and loved. She shared her time, her cooking, her listening ear, and her generous heart freely. Her life was a blessing to her family and friends, and her memory will remain a source of comfort, laughter, and love.