Frances A. Harmala

HOUGHTON - Frances A. Harmala, 73, a resident of Arbor Green, Houghton, and former Boston Location resident, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at home.

She was born in Calumet on May 17, 1936, a daughter of the late Edwin and Laurain (DeMarois) Mills and was a 1953 graduate of Calumet High School.

Fran worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for various agencies and also worked in home health care.

On June 20, 1959, she was married to James "Jim" Harmala in Lake Linden. He preceded her in death on March 29, 2001.

Fran was a member of the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock and the Boston Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. She and her husband were active in 4-H and were chosen as Family of the Year in 1987. Fran enjoyed doing arts and crafts and collecting porcelain dolls. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and enjoyed visiting with her Arbor Green friends.

Surviving are three sons, Jim of Dollar Bay, Paul and his life partner, Rosemary, of Hancock, Jeff (Shirley) of San Antonio, Texas; 11 grandchildren; three sisters, Jean (Royce) Pauquette of St. Francis, Wis., Doris (Fred) Hocking of Manitowoc, Wis., Margaret "Peggy" Rheault of Lake Ann, Mich.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, Fran was also preceded in death by a brother, Gary.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home in Hancock with Fr. Wayne Marcotte to officiate.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock.

Arrangements are being handled by Antila Funeral Service, Inc. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.