FRANCES AHLFS
February 27, 1920--January 29, 2012
During fine weather, a lot of people take walks along the quiet streets of Cathedral Hill, where the romantic old buildings are a magnet. Riley Row, the fantasy browstone that wraps around the corner of Laurel and Nina, often has these dreamy walkers gazing up at the turret and the fanciful decorative touches.
Until recently a gently regal presence was usually sitting on her porch at 290 Laurel to answer the questions of curious passersby about this beloved 1887 Clarence Johnston building. But we have lost Frances Ahlfs - Fran to everyone young and old - when she died just shy of her 92nd birthday. That’s a long life, but Fran was never an old lady. She was head nurse anesthetist at Anker, then Regions Hospi-tal until her retirement, and she lived at Riley Row since 1963 - long before Cathedral Hill was gentrified or even a very desirable address. She was an early pioneer here and was a powerful - and stylish - presence. She managed to achieve her final wish, thanks to her determination and the devotion of her husband Darrel Videen, to come home to Riley Row for her final days. Fran never lost her interest in the lives of others or her faith in young people or her eye for beauty.
Though Fran had no children, she was Grandma Fran to many. She loved keeping in touch with her large and far-flung family and was their matriarch too. It’s a measure of the love and admiration Fran inspired that people - former Riley Row tenants, her grandchildren now away at college, and family from afar - all came back for her funeral.
Fran wasn’t just the matriarch of our old building. She was our presiding spirit of kindness and good humor. Sitting with Fran‖ was a neighborhood summertime sport, people stopping to chat and staying as the light ebbed away. You just felt good to be in her presence. She had a magical calming gift. Many was the broken heart that came quietly to Fran’s porch to tell a tale of woe, only to leave smiling and thinking things were going to be all right in the end.
BY PATRICIA HAMPL and printed in The Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter. Patricia was a neighbor in the same building as Frances.
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February 27, 1920--January 29, 2012
During fine weather, a lot of people take walks along the quiet streets of Cathedral Hill, where the romantic old buildings are a magnet. Riley Row, the fantasy browstone that wraps around the corner of Laurel and Nina, often has these dreamy walkers gazing up at the turret and the fanciful decorative touches.
Until recently a gently regal presence was usually sitting on her porch at 290 Laurel to answer the questions of curious passersby about this beloved 1887 Clarence Johnston building. But we have lost Frances Ahlfs - Fran to everyone young and old - when she died just shy of her 92nd birthday. That’s a long life, but Fran was never an old lady. She was head nurse anesthetist at Anker, then Regions Hospi-tal until her retirement, and she lived at Riley Row since 1963 - long before Cathedral Hill was gentrified or even a very desirable address. She was an early pioneer here and was a powerful - and stylish - presence. She managed to achieve her final wish, thanks to her determination and the devotion of her husband Darrel Videen, to come home to Riley Row for her final days. Fran never lost her interest in the lives of others or her faith in young people or her eye for beauty.
Though Fran had no children, she was Grandma Fran to many. She loved keeping in touch with her large and far-flung family and was their matriarch too. It’s a measure of the love and admiration Fran inspired that people - former Riley Row tenants, her grandchildren now away at college, and family from afar - all came back for her funeral.
Fran wasn’t just the matriarch of our old building. She was our presiding spirit of kindness and good humor. Sitting with Fran‖ was a neighborhood summertime sport, people stopping to chat and staying as the light ebbed away. You just felt good to be in her presence. She had a magical calming gift. Many was the broken heart that came quietly to Fran’s porch to tell a tale of woe, only to leave smiling and thinking things were going to be all right in the end.
BY PATRICIA HAMPL and printed in The Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter. Patricia was a neighbor in the same building as Frances.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FRANCES AHLFS
February 27, 1920--January 29, 2012
During fine weather, a lot of people take walks along the quiet streets of Cathedral Hill, where the romantic old buildings are a magnet. Riley Row, the fantasy browstone that wraps around the corner of Laurel and Nina, often has these dreamy walkers gazing up at the turret and the fanciful decorative touches.
Until recently a gently regal presence was usually sitting on her porch at 290 Laurel to answer the questions of curious passersby about this beloved 1887 Clarence Johnston building. But we have lost Frances Ahlfs - Fran to everyone young and old - when she died just shy of her 92nd birthday. That’s a long life, but Fran was never an old lady. She was head nurse anesthetist at Anker, then Regions Hospi-tal until her retirement, and she lived at Riley Row since 1963 - long before Cathedral Hill was gentrified or even a very desirable address. She was an early pioneer here and was a powerful - and stylish - presence. She managed to achieve her final wish, thanks to her determination and the devotion of her husband Darrel Videen, to come home to Riley Row for her final days. Fran never lost her interest in the lives of others or her faith in young people or her eye for beauty.
Though Fran had no children, she was Grandma Fran to many. She loved keeping in touch with her large and far-flung family and was their matriarch too. It’s a measure of the love and admiration Fran inspired that people - former Riley Row tenants, her grandchildren now away at college, and family from afar - all came back for her funeral.
Fran wasn’t just the matriarch of our old building. She was our presiding spirit of kindness and good humor. Sitting with Fran‖ was a neighborhood summertime sport, people stopping to chat and staying as the light ebbed away. You just felt good to be in her presence. She had a magical calming gift. Many was the broken heart that came quietly to Fran’s porch to tell a tale of woe, only to leave smiling and thinking things were going to be all right in the end.
BY PATRICIA HAMPL and printed in The Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter. Patricia was a neighbor in the same building as Frances.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
February 27, 1920--January 29, 2012
During fine weather, a lot of people take walks along the quiet streets of Cathedral Hill, where the romantic old buildings are a magnet. Riley Row, the fantasy browstone that wraps around the corner of Laurel and Nina, often has these dreamy walkers gazing up at the turret and the fanciful decorative touches.
Until recently a gently regal presence was usually sitting on her porch at 290 Laurel to answer the questions of curious passersby about this beloved 1887 Clarence Johnston building. But we have lost Frances Ahlfs - Fran to everyone young and old - when she died just shy of her 92nd birthday. That’s a long life, but Fran was never an old lady. She was head nurse anesthetist at Anker, then Regions Hospi-tal until her retirement, and she lived at Riley Row since 1963 - long before Cathedral Hill was gentrified or even a very desirable address. She was an early pioneer here and was a powerful - and stylish - presence. She managed to achieve her final wish, thanks to her determination and the devotion of her husband Darrel Videen, to come home to Riley Row for her final days. Fran never lost her interest in the lives of others or her faith in young people or her eye for beauty.
Though Fran had no children, she was Grandma Fran to many. She loved keeping in touch with her large and far-flung family and was their matriarch too. It’s a measure of the love and admiration Fran inspired that people - former Riley Row tenants, her grandchildren now away at college, and family from afar - all came back for her funeral.
Fran wasn’t just the matriarch of our old building. She was our presiding spirit of kindness and good humor. Sitting with Fran‖ was a neighborhood summertime sport, people stopping to chat and staying as the light ebbed away. You just felt good to be in her presence. She had a magical calming gift. Many was the broken heart that came quietly to Fran’s porch to tell a tale of woe, only to leave smiling and thinking things were going to be all right in the end.
BY PATRICIA HAMPL and printed in The Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter. Patricia was a neighbor in the same building as Frances.
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