Obituary of Frances Breitweiser

Sterling - Frances Ruth (Miller) Breitweiser, 93, passed away February 27, 2019, at Rock River Hospice and Home. She was born August 9, 1925 in Winnebago County to parents George Hugh Miller and Mable Ella Maynard.

Fran spent her first years on a farm north of Sterling where she helped with chores until the family moved to town and into the historic home of Sterling’s founder, Hezekiah Brink, on 16th avenue. She graduated from Sterling High School in 1944. Frances was introduced to her future husband, Richard Paul Breitweiser, by her cousin, William James McNinch, while at a bowling party in the Sterling Coliseum basement, now City Hall. Frances always wanted to go to Colorado to study art but opted for love and the two were joined in marriage on June 2, 1946, when boys returned from the war.

Frances spent many years teaching Sunday school at The First Presbyterian Church in Sterling. She loved children, her nieces and nephews and always had good words for everyone she met. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved the outdoors. On walks, many a neighbor would chuckle as she stooped to pull a weed or two from their lawn. Fran loved order and neatness. She read, she sewed, she helped friends and neighbors, was a tireless proponent of good deeds and although she out-lived most of her friends and family, she continued to befriend all those she met until she passed.

Fran enjoyed travelling and loved bringing back souvenir stones from all the places they visited, which ended up decorating the various flower gardens they kept around their home. Fran loved animals and had many pet ‘children’ over the years. They often accompanied her on these trips.

Fran was preceded in death by her husband, her Parents, a Sister, Nancy Ann and a brother, Donald Hugh Miller. Since her husband's death, she had been cared for by  her cousin Tim McNinch and his wife Mary Ellen.

Visitation will be held at the Schilling Funeral Home, in Sterling, on Friday, March 1st, from 10 am till 11:30, followed by a private interment at Riverside Cemetery in Sterling. Please, in lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for Rock River Hospice and Home.