HEFFRON, Frances M. 1923-2004

HEFFRON

Posted By: Mary Chown (email)
Date: 5/13/2010 at 10:45:57

Frances Marie Heffron Lange, age 81, of Milwaukee, WI, and formerly of Ida Grove, Iowa, died at her home in Milwaukee on Saturday, November 27, 2004.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, December 3, 2004, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ida Grove, Iowa, under the direction of Christensen-Huffman Funeral Homes. The Reverend David Hemann will officiate the service, with burial to follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Ida Grove. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 8 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Ida Grove City Library.

Born April 24, 1923, in Lovilia, Iowa, Frances Marie Heffron Lange was the daughter of John and Veronica (Durbala) Sofranko. She spent her childhood in Lovilia, graduating from Lovilia High School in 1941. She attended Ottumwa Heights in Ottumwa, Iowa, then earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education at Marycrest College in Davenport.
After teaching in Union and Mitchellville, Iowa, Frances was united in marriage to Joseph Vincent Heffron in 1950. The couple made their home in Ida Grove where Joseph owned and operated Heffron Pharmacy until his death on April 13, 1966.
Frances made many contributions to the community during the years she resided in Ida Grove. She worked for the Chamber of Commerce, helping to organize a RAGBRAI stop and the town's bicentennial celebration. She wrote a column, "Fran's Felicity," for the Ida County Pioneer Record for some years and, in the late seventies, ran a local business, The Fabric Boutique. She also worked as a substitute teacher. Her proudest contribution was her work on the library board in planning and building the current library.
In 1986, Frances married Edward Lange of Worland, Wyoming, whom she survived. In 1993, Frances moved from Ida Grove to be near her family, living in Memphis, MO, Des Moines, IA, and Milwaukee, WI.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, John and Susan Heffron of Cedarburg, WI; Mark and Jayne Heffron of Shorewood, WI, Matthew and Chris Heffron of Norcross, GA, Mary and Kevin Chown of Friendswood, TX, Ann and Lynn Green of Cedar Rapids, and Luke and Margaret Heffron of Delafield, WI; 13 grandchildren; a brother and his wife, Gerald and Beverly Sofranko of Lovilia; and a sister, Sr. Maurine Sofranko of Des Moines.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; a son, Paul Heffron; a brother, Raymond Sofranko; and two sisters, Eleanor Sofranko and Thelma Murray.