Frances Mills

Frances Jordan Mills passed away quietly on Friday August 12, 2011 at the Hospice Home of the Hospice of Wake County. Her family was at her bedside when she joined the Lord. Frances (“Fran”) was born in Dekalb County, Illinois on October 23, 1921. She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Jordan and the youngest of six children. Fran moved from Illinois to Washington D.C. in 1947 to join the staff of the U.S. Congress. She married James B. Mills in 1948. They made their home in Springfield, Virginia. Fran worked as a legislative aide to several congressmen and senators until 1959. She avidly followed politics and current events throughout her life. Fran was also a homemaker, raising five children. Her children and six grandchildren were a lifelong source of joy. In her later years, Fran struggled with blindness and illness, but tenaciously continued to live life as fully as possible. Her religion and family helped her through these struggles. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband; her three sisters Isabelle McNamara, Mary MaGill, and Genevieve Slusser; and, two brothers Patrick Jordan and Francis Leonard Jordan. She is survived by her five children and their spouses: James Mills and wife Christine; Joel Mills and wife Sherrie; Janet Van Zee and husband John; Carol Carpenter and husband Tom; and Gregory Mills. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Nicole Clarke (and husband Chris); Elizabeth Carpenter; Michelle Mills; Allison Mills; John Patrick Van Zee; and, Christine Van Zee. The funeral mass will be held at 12 noon on Friday August 26, 2011 at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 11:00 am until 12 noon prior to the service. The mass will be followed by interment at the St. Raphael Columbarium and a reception in the Lewis room at St. Raphael’s. The family wishes to thank all of our mother’s caregivers including Wake Med, the Hospice of Wake County, Spring Arbor Assisted Living Center, Universal Health Care, Wake County Mental Health Community Treatment Teams, as well as St. Raphael and St. Luke Catholic Churches, especially the many caring Health Care Ministers who visited her. In lieu of flowers, donations in Fran’s memory may be made to the Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle Raleigh, NC 27607 or to St. Raphael Catholic Church, c/o the Bob Madey Parish Relief Fund. St. Raphael’s is located at 5801 Falls of the Neuse Rd. Raleigh, NC 27609.

Frances Mills

October 23, 1921 - August 12, 2011