Frances Emily Miguel was born on June 29, 1939 in Turlock, CA to Frank and Emily Mello. She passed away on November 18, 2024 after enduring a long illness.
She grew up on a small dairy farm in the 1940s and 50s. Like most children during this time, she helped with the tasks involved in tending to the farm and caring for her family. She found her vocation for caretaking while caring for her grandfather, whom she was very close to, and she carried this on throughout the rest of her life.
She attended Tegner School, graduated from Turlock High School (Class of 1957), and briefly attended Modesto Junior College to pursue nursing. Her career plans would soon be changed. While playing the accordion at a local festa in 1958, she caught the eye of Frank, who became the love of her life.They were married in 1959, and shortly thereafter, started a family together. She and Frank had seven children – her family became her whole life. She dedicated her life to raising her children, then, once they were fully grown, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending every school and sporting event she could.
A devout Catholic, she belonged to the Young Ladies’ Institute Chapter #223 of Hilmar, and was a woman of steadfast faith in God that carried her through the triumphs and tragedies of life. She was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Turlock and later Holy Rosary Catholic Church of Hilmar. She was an avid sports fan and dedicated Oakland A’s fan. When her health permitted, she loved attending baseball games and never missed an A’s game on TV.
Although she lived her entire life in the Turlock area, she and her husband Frank traveled widely, including Madeira, Portugal on several occasions, Italy, and Ireland. They traveled together throughout the United States to visit their two sons and their families in Texas and Wisconsin.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Frank, her children Paul (Patty) Miguel of Canyon, TX, Jackie (Andy) Germann of Ceres, CA, Steven (Julie) Miguel of Turlock, CA, Scott (Connie) Miguel of Lancaster, WI, Keith (Tina) Miguel of Hughson, CA, Kevin (Hilda) Miguel of Turlock, CA, and Natalie (Josh) Wilson of Turlock, CA, including 19 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her brother Frank Mello of Turlock, CA and sister Dolores Harness of Napa, CA. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Emily Mello and her sister Clarice Espinola.
God placed her on this earth as a loving wife and mother, nothing more, but there is nothing greater. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 26, 4pm to 7pm at Allen Mortuary. A Funeral Mass and Rosary will be held on Wednesday, November 27, 10am at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hilmar, CA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Rosary/Saint Mary’s Building Fund at www.osvhub.com/hilmarholyrosary/giving/funds/building-fund,the PAN (Patient Advocate Network) Foundation at www.panfoundation.org, and the National Scleroderma Foundation at www.scleroderma.org.
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