Obituary of Frances Jean Crooks

CROOKS (Zinck), Frances Jean – 80, of Hatchet Lake, passed away peacefully at home, on May 26th, 2012. A dynamic woman of remarkable strength, Fran was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend and neighbor who engaged her life with passion and enthusiasm whatever she did. After a lengthy career with Simpsons, she remained active in retirement and channeled her creative energy into ceramics, sewing and wedding cake creation amongst her many ventures. An extraordinarily avid and talented gardener, she found tremendous joy in her gardens where she was frequently found working from early morning until dark, even into her eightieth year. She will be profoundly missed and always remembered by her family: her husband of 62 years, Glenville; her children, Harris (Holly) Crooks and Chris (Michael) LaBreche; her siblings, Gill (Vesta) Zinck, Garfield (Nancy) Zinck, George (Mary) Zinck, and Sharon (Earl) Ross; her three grandchildren, Carolle (Rohan) Fernando, Erin (Jesse) Sparks and Kathryn Crooks; her great grandson, Cohen Fernando and her many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Richard and Annie (Foote) Zinck and foster parents Harris and Ella Morash; her twin sister, Hilda Boutilier; brothers, Stanley and Kenneth Zinck; sisters, Nema Whalen, Thelma Morash, Alice Bell and Margaret Bell; her foster brother, Clifford Allen and seven half-siblings. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Friday, June 1st at 11:00 AM at J. Albert Walker Funeral Home (2005) Ltd., 149 Herring Cove Road, with nephew Rev. Gerald Zinck presiding and a reception immediately following. A private interment will be held at a later time. There will be no visitation. If friends desire, donations in Fran's memory may be made to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or to a charity of choice.