Naomi Frana

     Naomi Frana, age 88, of Calmar, IA, died on Friday, March, 14, 2014, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Iowa.        Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March, 18, 2014, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 South Maryville Street, Calmar, IA, with Rev. Donald Hawes presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.        Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Monday, March 17, at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel in Calmar, IA, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Tuesday morning. There will be a rosary at 4:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.         Naomi Valaska (Houdek) Frana was born on August 23, 1925, the daughter of Frederick and Margaret (Meyer) Houdek, in Fort Atkinson, Iowa. Naomi attended Catholic School in Calmar and graduated from Calmar High School in 1943. After high school, Naomi worked for the FBI in Washington, DC for one year. She returned and married Richard Frana on September 6, 1944, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, and they were married for almost 70 years. Naomi was a meticulous homemaker and mother on their farm north of Calmar. She took great pride in keeping her home tidy and clean and was an excellent cook. Naomi enjoyed traveling and hosting large family dinners. She liked volunteering at the Winneshiek Medical Center and going to the neighborhood ladies club. Naomi enjoyed Spring; especially watching the newborn animals. All year round she enjoyed the birds and watching the cats. For all of her life, Naomi has been a very religious person, and prayed the rosary every day. She especially loved her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren and showered them all with love. Naomi was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, the Rosary Society and the Catholic Daughters of America.      Naomi is survived by her husband, Richard Frana, Calmar, IA. Three sons: Gary (Lois) Frana, Calmar, IA; Fritz (Mary “Cece”) Frana, Lakeville, MN; and Mark (Lesley) Frana, Delmar, MD. Grandchildren: Kelly (Brenda) Frana, Kathy (Ryan) Becker, Kristi (Jeff) Einhorn, Greg (Toni) Frana, Erin Frana, Kathleen (Daniel) Moss, Ryann (Jacob) Raynor and Daniel Frana. Twelve great grandchildren: Connor & Bailee Frana; Sydney, Gabby, Annika & Elliot Becker; Aidan, Lance, Trystan & Wyatt Einhorn; Ellie & Presley Frana; and a Moss great grandchild due in April. One sister: Julie (Cullen) Schwemer, Winona, MN. Sisters and brothers-in-law: Francis O’Brien, Cedar Rapids, IA; Rita (Bud) Jirak, Little Turkey, IA; Richard Groux, Austin, TX; Rose Frana, Calmar, IA; and Sandy Frana, Decorah, IA.      Naomi was preceded in death by her son: Danny on August 26, 1967, and daughter: Patricia Frana on October 20, 2012. Her parents: Frederick and Margaret (Meyer) Houdek. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Stephen and Frances Frana. Two sisters: Rosemary Groux, Joe & Germaine Izydorek. Brothers and sisters-in-law: Walter Frana, Raymond & Alice Frana, Mildred & Wilmer Poshusta, Marcella & Vernon Lee, Steven Frana, Robert Frana and Gene O’Brien.