Obituary

Born April 21, 1950, in Guelph, Ontario, passed away suddenly after a brief illness on July 28, 2025, in Fergus, Ontario. She was 75. Fran grew up in Guelph, daughter of Winnie and Bud and sister to Gerry, Pat, Sheila and Larry. Fran was the cherished wife of Doede “Bill” DeWitt for 43 loving years. She was the proud mother of Claudette (Sean), Sarah (Dan), and Aaron (Lisa), stepmother to William, Anita, and Julie and foster mom to Lisa. Fran was also the adored “Beppe” to her grandchildren Selina, Mathew, Destiny, Jamie Lynn, Jayna, Noah, Elena, and Nori Winnifred. Fran stayed close to home for most of her life – her happy place was in her favourite spot on the couch with Judge Judy on the TV and a crossword puzzle in hand. In the 1970s, she bravely ventured to the East Coast for a trip she often fondly recalled – taking the ferry from Portland and biking around Halifax. In 1981 she followed the love of her life, Doede, out West. They settled in Victoria, then Calgary, before making their way back to Ontario in a blue Buick with a U-Haul hitched to the back and a couple kids in tow. After brief stints in Fergus and Arthur, they settled down in Guelph. For many years, Fran ran a daycare out of her meticulously clean home on Clarke Street, where she lovingly cared for a rotating cast of babies and children. Later in life, Fran became a building manager and endeared herself to residents at buildings in Guelph and later in Fergus. Every Christmas she’d brag about the bounty of gifts she’d received in recognition of her service. Fran had a lifelong devotion to the Lord across various denominations, but like all of us she had a few vices – she never shied away from a game of cards or a cold glass of “dry white wine.” Fran was an excellent cook, spending countless holidays in the kitchen whipping up wonders for her family. Reserved for the most part, she loved to let loose and stay up late with David Letterman on what she called her “howl nights.” Knee replacements over the past couple years slowed her down a bit, but she made up for the limited mobility by becoming an avid texter. She will be dearly missed by her friends and family, and most of all by her partner in life, love and faith, her Doede. A private ceremony has taken place. Arrangements were entrusted to Graham A Giddy Funeral Home Ltd., 280 St. David St. S. Fergus, ON N1M 2L5, (519) 843-3100. Visit https://www.grahamgiddyfh.com for Fran’s online memorial.