Frances Emma Marie Brogan Buechele, born March 30, 1934 in Philadelphia, PA passed peacefully on May 29, 2024. She is survived by her husband, Walter E Buechele, Jr, her five children (Walter, John, Christine, Francis, and Michele), twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was the youngest of eight children of Marie and Joseph Brogan. She is preceded in death by her seven siblings: Joseph, James, John, Andy, Leo, Regina and Bernadette. In her early life she lived in West Philadelphia and then moved to Colwyn, PA as a teenager.
She attended West Catholic High School for Girls and graduated in 1952. Upon graduation, she became an Executive Secretary for a large engineering firm on the East Coast.
Fran met her future husband, Walter E. Buechele Jr. in 1951 and they dated off and on until 1956 and they married on June 23, 1956.
From 1957 to 1964, Fran and Walt had five children. During that time, they moved to West Chester PA. where they stayed until 1994. Fran’s focus was raising the children while active in various organizations related to her husband’s work as a teacher at West Chester University (State Teachers College.)
Fran’s years were active with the children, their education, and the Faculty Dames at WCU.
In 1994, Fran and Walter moved to Pinehurst NC to start a new phase of life: retirement. They loved the beauty of Pinehurst. Fran learned to play golf. She became involved with Sacred Heart Parish where she was instrumental in starting the Twenty-Four Adoration with Father Lawson.
Fran started the “Grand Rockers” at the local hospital, serving premature babies in which volunteers would rock preemie babies in rocking chairs to nurture them as they became stronger. Fran then became very active with her “second” love: her twelve grandchildren: Walter, Andrew, Leslie, Christopher, Allie, Megan, Melissa, Natalie, Tara, Patrick, Nikki and Rebecca, along with her six great grandchildren: Ada, Mae, Brogan, Robby, Elliott and Gabe. During the thirty years in Pinehurst, she saw her grandchildren grow to adults and become outstanding citizens and contributors to our society.
Travel and leisure were also spent visiting amazing places and making memories.
Fran’s unique personality, Irish sense of humor and love of family and those around her was infectious. Family was her true passion-her children and belief in the good of people.
She will be truly missed by all her knew her. A private service will be held in the future.
Online condolences can be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.
