Frances Schreifels

Frances A. "Fran" Schreifels, age 89 of Melrose, passed away peacefully after a short battle with congestive heart failure on Sunday, December 3, 2017 surrounded by her family at the CentraCare Health Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 9 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating, Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating, and Deacon Ernie Kociemba assisting. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Melrose.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Frances Anna Barthel was born March 8, 1928 in Paynesville, Minnesota to Mathias and Johanna (Buettner) Barthel. She married Marcellus "Marc" Schreifels on October 16, 1951 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. She worked at the Produce in Melrose, presently known as Jennie-O Foods, Cold Spring Brewery, waitressed at the Albany Café, and was involved with VFW Auxiliary functions. Her most important job was being a homemaker and raising her three children.

Fran enjoyed gardening, fishing, camping, baking, canning, card playing, and most of all, dancing. She was a sun worshiper, but was not an early riser. However, she would be out until dusk working the earth in her garden pulling weeds and meticulously maintaining her yard. She was artistic and a perfectionist in everything she did.

Fran was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers, and the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary.

Survivors include her partner, Leo Janssen of Richmond; children, Marlene "Molly" (Gene) Schneider of Melrose, Karen Schreifels of Crystal, and Judy "Mutz" Schreifels of Minneapolis; grandchildren, Justin (Erin) Schneider and Lindsey Schneider; two great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, MaryAnn Barthel-Scott and Arlene Barthel; and brother-in-law, Hank Middendorf.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marcellus "Marc" Schreifels on March 19, 1987; grandson, Cahil Jon Schneider; brothers and sisters, Lorraine Schreifels, Kathleen Middendorf, Donald Barthel, Allen Barthel, and Robert Barthel; and brother-in-law, Vic Schreifels.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Cahil Schneider Memorial Fund at Minneapolis Children's Hospital.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.