Frances Helen Brewer NOSTRAND On January 17, 2009, Frances Nostrand, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a friend to countless individuals around the world, passed from this world at the age of 95 years. Frances passed away peacefully at Mother Joseph Care Center in Olympia, Washington, where she had been residing for the last ten months. Frances Helen Brewer Nostrand was born on February 13, 1913, to Joseph Ridgeway Brewer and Alice Briggs Crippen Brewer in Roaring Branch, PA. She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her siblings, Margaret and Robert. Fran was raised in a loving family home in Rochester, New York, and received her secondary education at the University of Rochester, as well as the University in Lyons, France, where she studied for one year. She embarked on her long teaching career as a high school French instructor in the Rochester area. In 1940, Fran married Emerson Creore, and together they moved to Seattle, Washington, where Emerson was an instructor in Romance Languages at the University of Washington. That move began Fran's long and wonderful association with Seattle and the University of Washington. Fran taught French at The Bush School, and ultimately became an instructor in the University's Romance Languages' Department. She was not only a successful and admired teacher, but also a mother to three young children. Fran's marriage to Emerson ended amicably, and in 1967, Fran married Howard Lee Nostrand, to whom she remained married until Howard's death in 2004. Fran and Howie were truly kindred spirits, sharing with each other, and with their countless friends, a love of French culture, academia, the arts, music, and a commitment to world peace and understanding among diverse cultures. Together, they published texts on French language and culture, and they were both honored by the Government of France for their unique contributions to the teaching of the French language in conjunction with the teaching of French culture. Fran was also a longtime member of the Seattle Alliance Francais, and a founding member of the Seattle-Nantes Sister City Organization. Fran's greatest loves in life were her loving husband, Howie, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; traveling to Europe, and France in particular, on a regular basis; her teaching career; music and the arts (Fran was an accomplished piano player); and entertaining her family and friends in the grandest of style at the family home in Lake Forest Park, Washington. Fran is survived by her former husband, Emerson Creore, of Olympia, Washington; by her three children: Alice Creore Laurens of Seattle, Washington, Philip Creore of Seattle, Washington, and Suzanne Creore Quillian (Robert) of Olympia, Washington; her three stepsons: David Nostrand (Olga) of Sheridan, Wyoming, Richard Nostrand (Susan) of Norman, Oklahoma, and Robert Nostrand (Pat) of San Diego, California; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. A service celebrating Fran's life will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 13, 2009, the 96th anniversary of Fran's birth. The service will be held in the Smith Room at the Suzzallo Library on the University of Washington campus in Seattle, Washington, and all are welcome to come and celebrate Fran's remarkable and wonderful life with friends and family. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests donations be made to the Howard and Frances Nostrand Endowed Professorship through the University of Washington Foundation, or to the Frye Museum, 704 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA 98104. Published in the NWsource on 1/30/2009