Fran Reeser

Miss Frances Eleanor Reeser, age 86 of Moorefield, WV passed away Tuesday morning, July 16, 2002 at the Hampshire Center in Romney, WV where she had been in failing health for the last two years. Born August 2, 1915 in Harpers Ferry, WV she was a daughter of the late William H. & Bertha (Evans) Reeser. She was preceded in death by 1 Brother, Robert Reeser and 1 Sister Aggie Sager. She is survived by 2 Nephews, T. Lamar Sager of Moorefield & Robert Roger Reeser of Hyattsville, MD. Fran, better known as ?Aunt Fran? to many people, graduated from Harpers Ferry High School in 1933. She received her RN Degree from Providence Hospital School of Nursing, which was affiliated with Catholic University. She then attended New York University and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Education. She later received a Master of Arts Degree in Guidance and Personnel Administration. Before retiring to Moorefield to be with her sister, Aggie, she served as a professional Nurse in Huntington, WV and Washington, DC. For the last 28 years of her nursing career, she served as the Supervisor of the Operating Rooms in the Bronx, New York Veteran?s Hospital. During this time, she also oversaw the modernizing of the operating rooms in five other New York hospitals, She was well known in New York for her expertise in Operating Rooms. In 1949, Fran became a charter member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses along with seventeen nurses of the New York area and served as National Vice President for five years. She also served as the Chairperson of the Editorial Board of the AORN Journal who now have a membership of over 60,000 nurses. Fran was the last living Charter Member of the AORN. In 1969 she was the winner of the Johnson & Johnson Operating Room Nurse Scholarship Award of which she donated the monetary award to a staff nurse who was working towards her degree. Since moving back to Moorefield in 1973, Fran became active in community and civic organizations. She served on the Potomac Highlands Guild Board of Directors for seven years where she also served on their Executive Board and was Chairperson of the Personnel Committee. Fran became a charter member of the American Association of University Women and served as its Vice-President many times. She was a member of the South Branch Valley Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution where she served as its secretary for six years. In her work as a Volunteer for the Hardy County Special Olympics Board of Directors, she was honored twice as Volunteer of the Year in 1984 and 1985. In 1989 she joined the Board of Directors for the Moorefield Active Caring Association (MAC). Fran loved children and volunteered often at the Moorefield Elementary School for many years, where she received a plaque honoring her many years of service to special education students. Fran loved Moorefield and the people in Moorefield. Often you would find her in the area hospitals where she volunteered her time and efforts to patients of our local area. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, July 19, 2002 at the Epiphany Catholic Church near Moorefield with Father Mario Claro officiating. Interment will follow in the Olivet Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 - 9 PM Thursday at the Fraley Funeral Home where a Rosary will be recited at 7:30 PM. Memorials may be directed to the Epiphany Catholic Church ?Building Fund?, in care of Mrs. Marge Schauber, 11 Lee St., Moorefield, WV.