Frances Christina Keuvelaar

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Frances Christina (Cummins) Keuvelaar, on December 21, 2021.
She passed peacefully within her residence at Life Care Center, Crossville, TN. She was one day short of her 89th birthday.

Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1932, she experienced incredible changes to her world having lived through WW2 as a child, and having become the wife of a U.S. Marine who served during the Korean and Vietnam War eras.

She met and married her husband, John Keuvelaar, in 1955 while he was stationed at the American Embassy in Dublin. They lived in several locations throughout the U.S. during the course of John’s military career. She, John, and their three children settled in Denver, CO after John’s retirement.

Frances was the beloved mother of Albert Keuvelaar (Cathy Scalf) of Middleboro, KY, Timothy Keuvelaar (Jennifer) of Orlando, FL and Maureen Bartlett (Gregory) of Birchwood, TN; proud grandmother of Sarah, Ryan, Allyson, Jared, Katherine, Alex, Scott, and Molly; and great-grandmother to William and Andrew.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband John, parents Louise and Thomas Cummins, and each of her siblings: sisters Louise, Phyllis, and Sheila; brothers Thomas, Frederick, Desmond, and Oliver.

Frances lived a full life as a wonderful mother, homemaker, and worker in the restaurant and hotel/hospitality field. Once her children were old enough, she accepted a job with Marriott Hotels with the intent to work part-time. She enjoyed the work and was valued so much by her employer that she made it her own 19-year career leaving only in order to help care for her grandbabies.

Among the many simple things she enjoyed in life, she loved to sing, often creating her own lyrics to songs, kept an immaculate house, and was highly skilled at solving weekly crossword puzzles from the Sunday newspaper and TV Guide. She had a passion to stay busy at all times with the exception of sitting down when a favorite classic-movie aired.

Frances moved to Life Care Center of Crossville in 2020 where she received love and expert care for her battle with dementia. She was affectionally known there as “Miss Frances” and for always greeting everyone with “Top of the morning”.
Most of all she loved her family and instilled in her children strong values that have served them well. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

Frances will be laid to rest alongside her husband in the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville. A celebration of both their lives will be announced as soon as arrangements can be made.

Please share your memories and photos of Frances on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com .

The family is being cared for by the Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, TN.