Frances Marie Kemnitz

Frances Marie Kemnitz, loving wife, sister, mother, “Nana”, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 86, surrounded by family, on November 1, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. She was born on March 8, 1934, in Norwalk, Connecticut to Julius and Loretta Bernhardt.
Fran met the late Donald Kemnitz, who would soon become her husband of 55 years, at the submarine base in New London, Connecticut in 1954. They married on April 2, 1955, the same year she graduated from Norwalk Hospital School of Nursing. They moved to Oklahoma, where Fran would begin her 30 years of faithful service in the newborn nursery of Integris Southwest (AKA South Community Hospital) before retiring in 1993. Together, Donald and Fran enjoyed doing yardwork, camping, fishing, traveling in their RV, attending the Lyric theater, working crossword puzzles and watching OU football games. In addition, Fran enjoyed Gospel music, playing the piano, sewing, and crocheting.
Fran had a kind, sweet, gentle spirit, always putting other’s needs above her own. She loved well. Late in life, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, which eventually ended her physical life here on earth and took her to live eternally with Jesus, whom she loved. Fran will be missed greatly and will always be loved “a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”
Fran is survived by her daughters; Vickie Grissom, Terry Page and husband Paul, Donna Codd and husband Jim; five grandchildren; Devin Grissom and wife Amanda, Tori Drake and husband Matt, Brooke Page, Ian Codd, Avery Codd, and Benjamin Codd; five great grand-children; Addalyn, Bristol, and Cooper Drake, Jentri, and Rowan Grissom. Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Julius and Loretta Bernhardt; husband, Donald Kemnitz; son, David Kemnitz; sister, Barbara Selwitz; sister-in-law, Patricia Northrop; and brother-in-law, Daniel Northrop.
Arrangements have been entrusted in the care of Dighton Marler Funeral Home of Perry.
Viewing will be held from 11am to 8pm at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home (203 E. Fir, Perry, Oklahoma 73077). Service will be held at Southern Hills United Methodist Church (8200 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73159) on Friday, November 6, 2020 at 10:00am. Burial will be held at Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, Frances has requested donations be made to further research for Fragile X Syndrome. Please consider honoring her life by donating to www.fragilex.org. (Fran was, and her children and grandchildren are affected, directly and indirectly, by Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic disorder.)

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.dightonmarler.com