Obituary: Frank, Brigitte Maria (Kirstein)

FRANK, Brigitte Maria (Kirstein)

Our beloved Brigitte M. Frank passed away on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in 1935 in Schneidemuehl, Germany to William and Maria Kirstein.

After WWII, she and her family fled to West Germany where they lived for four years before immigrating to the United States in June 1949.

Brigitte and her family settled in Spokane, where she attended Libby Junior High School and Lewis and Clark High School, graduating in 1955.

She worked at the Spokane Public Library during her high school years and at Pacific Telephone and Telegraph after graduation.

Brigitte met Harley Frank in 1961 and they were married later that year.

They were happily married for 54 wonderful years.

Brigitte taught herself to speak English by going to the movies and continued to enjoy watching some of those same classic films throughout her life.

She was an enthusiastic reader, and was especially fond of novels written in her native German language.

She returned to Germany several times to visit relatives, friends and the communities of her childhood.

She loved being outside and was an avid walker for most of her life.

Brigitte was an amazing cook and homemaker.

She loved preparing meals for her family, happily hosting nearly every holiday and family event.

Above all, Brigitte’s greatest joy was her family.

She dedicated her life to taking care of those she loved and provided her family and friends with unconditional love and support.

Brigitte was a beautiful, caring, thoughtful and generous woman who lived her 81 years of life to the fullest.

Brigitte was preceded in death by her parents William and Maria Kirstein, son Garrett M. Frank, and brother Wolfgang Kirstein.

She is survived by her husband Harley Frank, son Aric Frank, daughter and son-in-law Selena and Myles Kennedy, grandson Garrett G. Frank, sister and brother-in-law Ingrid and Bill Anderson, sister-in-law Donna Kittilson, many nieces and nephews, and cousin Christel Jacobs in Germany.

Visitation for Brigitte will be held Monday, April 25th from noon to 5:00pm.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 26th at 1:00pm at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home.

Interment to follow at Fairmount Memorial Park.