Coleen Helen Francis

Coleen Helen Francis passed away peacefully after a brief illness on March 17, 2026. Coleen is preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Alice, as well as four brothers: William, Michael, Patrick, Kevin and two sisters: Mary Catherine and Teresa. She is survived by her children: Danielle and Michael, her grandchildren: Zoe, Stellan and Vega, her brothers and sisters, John, Thomas, Harriet, Margaret, David, Denisa and Lawrence. Coleen was born on March 20, 1951 in Southfield. The sixth of fourteen children, one of her favorite childhood memories was the freedom and joy she experienced riding her family’s horses: Flika and Julie. She had a deep love and respect for nature; she often said being in nature made her feel especially close to God. Coleen graduated from Southfield High School and shortly thereafter moved to Elk Rapids in northern Michigan with her family. Later still, she married and moved back to Oakland County where she raised her two children: Danielle and Michael. Nothing mattered more to Coleen than her children; there was nothing she would not do for them. She had a deep faith and would pray for her children and grandchildren, twice daily, always encouraging them with her favorite bible verse: 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” In times of trouble Coleen could be relied upon for solace; she had a unique ability to be a calm and guiding force. Her strength was her great asset in many ways; she rarely, if ever, gave up. She had uncommon resolve and persistence. Coleen was also blessed with many innate talents. Born with a beautiful voice, Coleen sang at family weddings; she even sang at her own wedding with her father-in-law. As a visual artist, she excelled at stained glass, and had her own distinct fashion sense, favoring vintage clothes, putting outfits together with ease and confidence. Her sister remembers: “Nobody could wear a hat better than Coleen! The wider the brim, the better!! With her signature bright red lipstick and those enormous blue eyes, she always looked fabulous heading out into the world. Coleen’s keen sense of design and style carried over in her work life. Spending many years at Crate and Barrel and Ethan Allen, she thrived helping customers select furniture and put together a home uniquely tailored to them. She later opened her own store in Elk Rapids, called “Morningstar” where she helped dress customers with her eye for style. It was something that lit her up; she loved to design, use her imagination and be creative. Throughout her life, Coleen sought to champion the underdog and to fight for what was right. While her later years were extremely difficult, through God’s grace, the last eight months were a time of profound closeness and healing for Coleen and her family. The family is planning a celebration of life service at a later date.

Coleen Helen Francis

March 20, 1951 - March 17, 2026