Joean Kennedy Fransen

Joean Kennedy Fransen, age 94 — wife, mom, educator, author, welcoming neighbor and friend to those in need — passed away in Astoria, Oregon, on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016.

Born in the wheat country of Condon, Oregon, in 1922, and raised in Pendleton, Oregon, she graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in 1940 and entered Marylhurst College in Portland. In 1942, she suspended her academic plans and jumped into the war effort, becoming an apprentice electrician who helped wire her share of the 455 ships built between 1942 and 1945 at the Kaiser shipyard at Swan Island in Portland.

Following the war, the Irish girl from Eastern Oregon moved to Astoria and took another position of service — with the American Red Cross. Renting a room in the home of Norwegian fisherman Trygve Johansen and his wife Bertha, she embraced the Scandinavian culture and learned from the best to cook and bake Rolle’polse, krumkake, lefse, fruit soup and prune tarts as good as any Norwegian or Finn.

In the late 1940s, at Amato’s Supper Club, she met a handsome young Finn by the name of Walter Fransen; they married in 1950, and together they settled into the south slope of Astoria. They raised a family centered on faith, expectations and compassion … and lots of fish.

A neighborhood mom, she hosted the annual marshmallow roasts, the backyard carnival, the neighborhood picnics and organized the annual neighborhood climb of Saddle Mountain. She was the neighbor who always brought a welcoming dish to the new neighbors and had a particular soft spot for young U.S. Coast Guard families. Active in Beta Sigma Phi, St. Gregory’s Circle at St Mary’s Catholic Church, the Columbia River Maritime Museum and the Astoria Library, gatherings were common at her home.

A strong advocate of reading, she was on the board of directors that oversaw the construction of the Astoria Library. As her children came of age, she returned to Marylhurst College and earned her bachelor’s degree in 1970, and commenced a career in education.

She devoted 16 years to the library and teaching at Capt. Robert Gray School. During that tenure, an absence of resource material on Capt. Robert Gray led her to a retirement project: Researching and writing a book for young adults that chronicled Gray’s discovery of the Columbia River. “Gray and Columbia’s River,” published in 1992, took her on research trips to Massachusetts, the Portuguese colony of Macao and the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Children of the Great Depression, she and Walter carried with them an understanding of hard times, and were always very generous to those in need. In an era much less inclusive than today, Joean’s best friends came from all cultures and backgrounds. Intertwined through her long life, her achievements, and her children, was a deep and abiding faith in our loving creator.

She was preceded in death by brother Maurice; sister Rita Jean; and husband of 65 years, Walt Fransen, who passed away on April 11 this year. She is survived by her children, Sue Rickey and her husband, Meryl, of Tri-Cities, Washington, Katie Ryding and her husband, Scott, of Astoria, Bill Fransen and his wife, Katherine, of Olympia, Washington, and Trygve Fransen and his wife, Kathy, of Knappa, Oregon.

She was also blessed with 11 grandchildren, Eileen Savoy, Lara Terry, Alison Trumpore, Melinda Rickey, Gregory Ryding, Adriana Ryding, Jeffrey Ryding, Emily Fransen, Alec Fransen, Jennifer Young and Toivo Fransen; and 13 great-grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by three dear sisters-in-law, Shirley Tinner of Astoria, Helen Mack of Palm Desert, California, and Cannon Beach, Oregon, and Audrey Brown of San Francisco; and many, many wonderful nieces and nephews. She was so grateful, and blessed, with a loving, caring family.

The family of Walter and Joean would like to express their deepest appreciation for the kindness, the tender care, and the compassion showered on our parents by the most amazing people who work at Clatsop Care. What a blessing each of you were in their lives, and ours. Please know that we are very grateful.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, Sept. 12, 2016, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Astoria, Oregon. The mass will be preceded by a rosary at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Following the mass, there will be a celebration of her life with a reception at The Loft at the Red Building, 20 Basin St., Astoria, Oregon. Friends, neighbors, family and former students are warmly invited.

Reflecting her compassion for those less fortunate, and her love for the Columbia River and all things Astoria, memorial contributions may be made to: The Maritime Memorial Association, in care of the Uniontown Association, P.O. Box 392, Astoria, OR 97103; St. Vincent de Paul Society — St. Mary Star of the Sea Conference, 1465 Grand Ave, Astoria, OR 97103; or the St. Mary Star of the Sea Education Fund, 1465 Grand Ave, Astoria, OR 97103.