Esperanza Frances (Gracia) Gillenwater-Lemasters entered the Lord’s presence on December 26, 2022, at the age of 97. She was born on April 19, 1925, in Lackawanna, New York to Pasqual and Rose Marie Gracia. To some friends she was Hope, and to others she was Fran or Frannie, but more importantly, no matter the name they called her, she was deeply loved by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, and sisters, Irene Muno, and Carmella (Geraldine) Hall, and husbands, Karl Kay Gillenwater and Donald Dean Lemasters. 

Frances was a life-long resident of Akron, Ohio and was raised in Kenmore. She attended both Kenmore and Buchtel High Schools. She met her first husband, Karl Gillenwater, at the age of fourteen and they married on September 19, 1942. Shortly after their marriage, WWII began and while Karl served in the US Army in Europe, Fran joined her sister, Irene, in Colorado and supported the war effort by working at Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, Colorado. While serving at the hospital, she would sing to the wounded soldiers after her shift and quickly gained the attention of many with her beautiful alto voice and was invited to be a part of the USO singing with the Army Band for many WWII musical performances. After the war, Fran sang in many more performances in the community as a vocalist throughout her life in Akron, Youngstown, and Pittsburgh, often under the stage name of Marion Frances. 

Karl, Fran, and their first-born son, Randy, joined family in Phoenix, Arizona in the early 1950’s where Fran worked at the Phoenix Country Club and was active as a vocalist in her community. She was invited to sing on a local television network in Phoenix and always spoke fondly of this opportunity. After returning to Akron, Fran continued her love for music by singing religious and gospel songs at various churches and other venues. She became a remarkably successful real estate agent and was credited with moving many properties to support the real estate efforts which eventually became Rolling Acres in Barberton. 

Fran was active in many churches she attended, and for many years was a member of Goss Memorial Church in Kenmore and Grace Brethren Church in Bath, Ohio. Fran possessed the ultimate servant heart; she was always helping someone in need whether it was gathering clothes for a family in need or cooking meals for a neighbor or friend. She loved helping others and it did not matter if they were a stranger or a close friend. 

The most important thing in Fran’s life was her family. She was a devoted Mother and Grandmother. Together with her first husband, Karl, they had four children, Randall Kay (Kimberly) Gillenwater of Akron, Ohio, Craig Dean (Leeann) Gillenwater of Barberton, Denise Hope Heischman of Akron, and Melinda Marie (Gordon) Hengst of Cibolo, Texas.

She had 9 grandchildren, Janine (Gillenwater) (Mathew) Seese, Bradley (Amanda) and Nicholas (Leann) Wegner, Mark (Jen) Heischman, Ryan (Lisa) Gillenwater, Dustin (Alyssa) Gillenwater, and Marcos, Javier, and Julia Gutierrez, and 10 great grandchildren: Abigail, Nathaniel, and Noelle Seese, Bradley (Jr) and Andrew Wegner, Greta and Gwyneth Gillenwater, Harrison and Hadley Gillenwater, and Baby Boy Gutierrez – Benavides, who is expected to arrive this May 2023, and many nieces and nephews and dear friends, whom she dearly loved.  

Frances was a believer in Christ, and it was her lifelong desire and mission to ensure that everyone she met in her life knew the love and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In her lifetime she led many family members and friends to Christ and often mentioned to others that she felt this was her most important work on earth. It was her desire to know that all those she knew and loved would someday join her in the kingdom of Heaven. 

To honor Fran’s beautiful life, calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2023, from 6 pm – 8 pm at Cox-McNulty Funeral Home, and a funeral service being held at 11 am on Friday, January 6, 2023 (additional calling hours beginning at 10 am) at Cox- McNulty Funeral Home, 220 Norton Avenue, Barberton, Ohio 44203. Services will be officiated by Deacon Robin Adair. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Barberton, Ohio.

Memorials may be made in Fran’s memory to the American Cancer Society in honor of her late husband, Karl, or St Jude Children’s Hospital, a favorite charity of Fran and her family.