Helen Marie Casattas Mohr (nee. Frank) 1926-2014

Helen Marie Frank Mohr, aged 88 passed away peacefully on November 24, 2014 at the Devonshire Oaks nursing home in Redwood City, Ca. She was a long time resident of San Jose, Ca. 

She lost a slow battle with cancer in the final year of her life.

Helen was born in Fort Sam Houston, (San Antonio), Texas on February 6, 1926. She was the daughter of Helen Marie Baggott Frank and Clarence Archibald Frank. Her father was a graduate of the US military academy and was a Colonel in the Army. As a child, her family was stationed in numerous locations including: Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas; Fort Eustis in Warwick, Virginia; Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland, Fort Lewis in Pierce, Washington and finally Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii. She attended college at San Jose State University and graduated with a degree in education in 1948. 

She married Gilbert Mohr on Dec 29, 1983 in Santa Clara, California. Together they shared a passion of playing cards with local friends and bridge clubs.

Gilbert preceded her in death on October 30, 2004.Helen is survived by her two children, Anne Marie Piscatelli of Phoenix, Arizona; Sherri Walker of Wheaton, Illinois; Her siblings Eugene Frank of South Saint Paul, Minnesota; Virginia Frank of Morgan Hill, Ca and Dorothy Frank of Redwood City, Ca. Additionally her seven step-children, Bill Mohr of Piedmont, Ca; Pamela McKenna of Waimea, Hi; Mary Crawford of San Mateo, Ca, Mike Mohr of Honolulu, Hi, Pattie Jacobson of San Carlos, Ca; Steve Mohr of Danville, Ca and David Mohr of San Jose, Ca.

She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, five great grand children and many nieces and nephews. Our family will remember Helen for her kind and gentle spirit. A private family service will be held in honor of her life at a later date.

The obituary was obtained from the funeral home Crippen and Flynn Woodside Chapel website here http://www.crippenandflynnchapels.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1465684 I have no record yet of the obituary being published in a newspaper.

My mother-in-law.  She was cremated and her ashes were scattered on family property in Redwood City.

The obituary fails to mention her first marriage June 26, 1954 to Paul Stephen Casattas (1926-1998) which ended in divorce.

Copyright © 2015 by Kevin W. Walker

Surname Saturday: Frank

From pages 792-793 of History of Pettis County, Missouri by Mark A. McGruder (Topeka, Indianapolis, Cleveland : Historical Pub. Co., 1919) --

Dr. Elmer C. Frank, a prominent dentist of Sedalia, is a native of Pettis County. Doctor Frank was born at LaMonte, Missouri, May 12, 1872, and is a son of Abraham and Catherine (Cloes) Frank. Abraham Frank was born in Germany in 1818 and came to America with his parents in 1832, when he was fourteen years of age The family located in Ohio, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives. Abraham Frank went to Illinois about 1845, and was living in that State when the Mexican War broke out. He enlisted and served in the United States Army during the Mexican War, and during the gold excitement in California, he went to the Pacific Coast. After remaining there three years, he returned to Illinois. Shortly after the Civil War, he came to Pettis County, Missouri, and bought a farm of 210 acres, north of LaMonte. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising, during the remainder of his life. He was a conscientious man and a good citizen and met with a reasonable degree of success in a financial way. He died November 8, 1894. His widow survived him for a number of years and departed this life in 1912. Their remains rest side by side in the LaMonte cemetery. To Abraham and Catherine (Cloes) Frank were born the following children: Henry, deceased; Sadie, married Harvey Walls, Jefferson City, Missouri; Lizzie, married Gilbert Scott, Sedalia, Missouri; Hiram, lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; William, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Walter I., Salt Lake City, Utah; and Dr. Elmer C., the subject of this sketch. Doctor Frank was educated in the public schools of Pettis County, the State Normal School, at Warrensburg, and the Sedalia Business College. He then entered the Western Dental College at Kansas City, Missouri, where he was graduated in the class of 1900, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. He immediately engaged in the practice of his profession in Sedalia, his first office being in the Central Building. Two years later he established his office in the Ilgenfritz Building, where he has since been located. Doctor Frank has built up a large practice and is one of the leading dentists of this section of the State. He has been very successful in the general practice of dentistry, although he specializes in that sphere of his profession which has special reference to crown and bridge work. Doctor Frank was united in marriage, November 18, 1915, with Mrs. Ida Gresham, daughter of Isaac Warren of Sedalia, Missouri. Doctor and Mrs. Frank have a pleasant home on South Park street and both have an extensive acquaintance in Sedalia and stand high in the community.

Nice find!  This profile of my wife's great-grand uncle Dr. Elmer C. Frank, spends half of the time profiling her 2xg-grandparents Abraham and Catherine (Cloes) Frank!

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

Maria Gertrude (Homberg) Hense (1836-1880)

From The Baggott Family: A Family History (self-published, 2002) by Bert and Joan Donlon --

Frank Hense, born in Prussia in 1820, married Maria Gertrude Homberg, born in 1836, on April 15, 1852 in Adams County, Illinois.  Frank was 32 and Gertrude was 16.  They lived in Hersman, Brown County, Illinois where Frank owned the Lillian Flour Mill.  Hersman is located about three miles southeast of Mt. Sterling on State Highway 99.  Frank and Gertrude had 17 children, five of whom died as infants or in early childhood.  Records from a family Bible indicate that Gertrude died 12 days after the birth of her 17th child.  Gertrude was 44 years old.  Our family has Gertrude's prayer book as our only remembrance.

Gertrude is my wife's great-great-grandmother along her purely maternal line (Gertrude Homberg Hense --> Edith Hense Baggott --> Helen Marie Baggott Frank --> Living Casattas --> Sherri Casattas Walker).  If we were to test Sherri's Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) it would establish a direct link to Gertrude.

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

Amanuensis Monday: Casattas - Frank Wedding Announcement

(Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.  "Amanuensis Monday" is a blogging theme hosted by John Newmark at the Transylvanian Dutch Genealogy Blog.)

The following is from the Tuesday, June 29, 1954 issue of the newspaper SUNNYVALE STANDARD --

Helen Frank, Paul Casattas Say Vow in Nuptial Ceremony

Helen Marie Frank and Paul Steven Casattas Saturday morning repeated nuptial vows in a formal double ring ceremony performed by the Reverend Joseph G. O'Gara at St. Patrick's Church, San Jose.

Helen, the daughter of Col. and Mrs. Clarence A. Frank of San Jose was given away by her father.

The bride selected a wedding gown of chantilly lace over satin with a fitted bodice, full-length skirt, long sleeves and a long train.  Her fingertip veil was secured to a pearl crown.  A spray of stephanotis arranged on her great-grandmother's prayer book centered with a white orchid and white satin streamers composed the bridal bouquet.

Carol Eason maid of honor wore a blue net over satin gown with a bouffant skirt fashioned with three rows of inserted ruffles and appliqued roses on the tucked bodice.  She wore a band of net ruffles in her hair and carried a colonial bouquet of pastel blue delphiniums backed with pale blue satin.

The three bridesmaids, who preceded Helen down the aisle, wore gowns identical to the maid of honors.  Serving as attendants were Mary Elizabeth Frank, sister of the bride; Joan Waterman, cousin of the bride, and Linda Whelan, cousin of the groom.

Best man for the rites was Lawrence Estevan, Jr., while Robert Bevans, Harold Waterman, and William Whelan, showed guests their places.

Approximately 350 friends and relatives attended a reception honoring the couple at the De Anza Hotel.

Mrs. Frank, mother of the bride, wore a changeable pastel blue silk shantung afternoon dress to her daughter's wedding, complemented with a white picture hat and gloves.  She wore a pink cymbidium orchid corsage.  The benedict's mother was costumed in a navy blue two-piece crepe suit, with navy blue and white accessories.  She too wore an orchid corsage.

Casattas, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl G. Casattas, of 571 N. Bayview, is a graduate of St. Joseph's High School in Alameda, and San Jose State College where he was affiliated with Theta Kappa Phi Fraternity.  his sisters are Mrs. Jens Juhl and Sister Julie of the Holy Family Order.

Helen graduated from Notre Dame High School, San Jose, and San Jose State College where her sorority was Epsilon Sigma Alpha.  Her sisters and brothers are Clarence A. Frank, Jr., Eugene P. Frank, Sister Dorothy Cecillia of Notre Dame, Mary Elizabeth, and Eileen Frank.

For her going away outfit, Helen wore a sand-hued two-piece pure silk suit overlaid with turquoise and white print.  She pinned an orchid corsage at her shoulder.

After a honeymoon in Southern California, the newlyweds will make their home in San Carlos.

Copyright © 2010 by Kevin W. Walker