Raechel Ann Franson, 70, of La Porte, Ind., passed away Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, at her home in La Porte with her husband at her side.
She was born Dec. 30, 1949, in La Porte, the daughter of Floyd and Mary Frances (Farwell) Tuttle.
A graduate of La Porte High School, Raechel worked for a variety of businesses, including Lighthouse Electrical and Nielson Hyundai. She attended Mill Creek Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir. Raechel was a gregarious, fun-loving woman who loved people and always made them laugh. She loved traveling and cruising with her husband to such places as Hawaii and the Caribbean. She was also an avid collector. Her treasures included masks, dragonflies, little witches and bears, which she proudly displayed. She adored her dogs: Bichon, Sugar and Cabichon, Gigi.
On Sept. 29, 1984, she married Edward Charles Franson, who survives.
Also surviving are her son, Ryan Seymour of Michigan City, Ind.; two step-sons, Allan Lewis (Staci) Franson of Mishawaka, Ind., and Douglas Allan (Bekki) Franson of Mishawaka; daughter, Amy (Ray) Wolfenbarger of New Carlisle, Ind.; step-daughter, Cynthia Ann (Jeff) Sawyer of Elkhart, Ind.; sister, Sandy Engbrecht of Naperville, Ill.; five grandchildren, Bailey Wolfenbarger, Lauren Franson, Lucas Sawyer, Joseph Sawyer and Ray Vinton; great-grandchild, Carson; and mother of her stepchildren, Eilene Marie Franson.
Raechel was preceded in death by her sister, Janet Simon, and sister, Elaine Baldwin.
The family will receive friends at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, La Porte, on Wednesday, Dec. 23, from 10 to 11 a.m. La Porte time. A life celebration will follow at 11 a.m. La Porte time at the funeral home and will also be shown via Facebook live through Haverstock Funeral Home. The burial will be Wednesday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. La Porte time at Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend. Pastor Bob Vale will officiate.
Anyone attending the services will be required to wear masks and practice 6-foot distancing.
Memorial contributions may be made to Dunes Hospice, 4711 Evans Ave., Valparaiso, Ind. 46383; Riley Children’s Hospital, 705 Riley Hospital D, Indianapolis, Ind. 46202; or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 S. Danny Thomas Blvd., Memphis, Tenn. 38105.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.