Victoria Frances "Fran" (Costanza) Blake

Victoria Frances "Fran" Blake, 91, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, May 26, 2019 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance.   
 
She was born on June 22, 1927 to Charles and Geneva (Roberts) Costanza in Chicago, Illinois. In 1945 she married Peter L. Blake, who preceded her in death in 1994.
 
Fran was a member of  Trinity United Methodist Church, Defiance VFW Auxiliary, and the former Thirteen Club. She worked as an Assistant Manager for Lord's Dress Shop and CATO Women's Clothing Store in Defiance. Fran never met a stranger. She was easy to talk with and entertained her listeners with her stories and wit. She moved through life seeing the best in others and felt that she was the luckiest person.

Fran is survived by her son, Allen Sandhurst (Carol) Blake of Defiance, daughter, Candace Blake Weis of Bowling Green, 6 grandchildren; Kristen Keough, Rebecca (Mike) Humphreys, Alec Blake, Ryan Blake, Michelle Hohenberger, and Clint Werling, 3 great-grandchildren, and step brother, Robert (Dottie) Ziegler of Indianapolis, IN.
 
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Peter L. Blake, stepfather, Bert Ziegler, son-in-law, David Weis, and stepsister, Joanna Osborn.
 
Additional family according to Ancestry.com filled her later months with surprise and absolute delight as she learned of an additional biological father, Lester Howard Bouchon (a jazz musician) (1907-1962) and four half-siblings. She is survived by three half-siblings, Beverly, Arlene, and Lester. Her half-brother Phillip died in 2009. She was able to meet Beverly this spring and she felt this a pinnacle in her life.

Visitation will be held from 9-11 am on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance. A service to celebrate Fran's life will follow at 11:00 am at Schaffer Funeral Home, with Pastor Judy Williams officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery.
 
Memorials are suggested to Trinity United Methodist Church

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Victoria Frances "Fran" (Costanza) Blake, please visit our floral store.