Obituary of Frances Isobel Semple

Frances Semple died at Kingsway Lodge on October 17, 2020. She was 95.Frances Isobel Watson was born on August 16, 1925 in London, Ontario, the only child of Robert Watson and Blanche Annie Axon. Frances liked to say she was the apple of her father's eye, and that was so true. She attended Pond Mills School then worked at Holeproof Hosiery in London. She met John Semple, who was just back from World War II, on a blind date, and they were married in 1947. Frances and John raised four children, Kathleen Elizabeth Thomas (Richard), John David Semple (Sue), Robert Charles Semple, and Laura Frances Payton (Pat). She is survived by grandchildren Jessica Swanson (Jason), Melissa McCarthy (Tom), Fraser Semple (Kaitlin), Scott Semple (Sandy Marchetti), Christy Van Haarten (Devin), John Semple, Katy Girt (James), and Sam Santandrea (Erin), and great-grandchildren Taylor and Summer Swanson, Brody and Hudson McCarthy, Lucas and Hailey Van Haarten, and Greyson Robert Louis Girt.When John died of early Alzheimer's in 1987 Frances carried on, having gotten her driver's licence when he first became ill. She enjoyed a friendship with St. Marys resident Mike Beach for a few years before his passing in 2007. Frances was a woman of many talents. She played piano, sang in many choirs, she loved to paint, sew, knit, needlepoint, quilt, she made jewelry, and prized her doll collection. She dearly loved gardening, a talent inherited from her father, and was a prize rose grower in both London and St. Marys. Even her apartment balconies in St. Marys were always packed with pots of beautiful flowers. Frances always immersed herself in the church community wherever the family lived, from Hamilton Road Presbyterian, Palmdale Presbyterian in Eau Gallie, Florida where the family moved for 2 years in the 1960s, to South Nissouri Church at Friendly Corners, and Grace Community in St. Marys. She belonged to a number of horticultural societies in the various communities the family lived in, and even dipped a toe in politics as a member of The Green Committee in St. Marys, as well as being an advocate for affordable cooperative housing, and instrumental in seeing Little Falls Co-op become a reality. The Semple family is so very grateful to the staff at Kingsway Lodge, on all floors, but in recent years on the second floor. The nurses, PSWs, aides, and behavioural staff took kind and thoughtful care of our Mom, right until her very last breath.Frances will be buried next to John in St. Marys Cemetery following a private family service.In memory of Frances, show a kindness or share a friendly word with someone you see dining or shopping or living alone. Even the smallest gesture can mean so much.'If roses grow in heavenLord please pick a bunch for mePlace them in my Mother's armsAnd tell her they're from me.'Dolores M. Garcia