Frances Mary Beis

It is with deep sadness that we relay the news of the passing of our mother, Frances “Fran” Mary Beis, age 86 at her home of 13 years, Northwood, Ivany Campus, in Bedford, NS. Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to William and Agnes (Amelse) Clabots. Frances grew up on a farm in Humoldt, WI. She was salutorian of Luxemburg High School in 1955. She completed her Certificate at the School of Medical Technology at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI in 1957 and graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Norbert’s College in De Pere with a Bachelor of Science in 1959. She met a close group of friends who kept in touch over the years (Stephanie, Donna, Mary and Joyce). Mom worked as a Medical Technologist in Green Bay where she met our father, Richard Hardy Beis, on a blind date. They married in 1961 and moved to a suburb of Chicago for a few years before emigrating to Nova Scotia in 1965. Falling in love with the seaside, they became Canadian citizens in 1972. She worked in clinical and research labs, taught clinical lab techniques and was a technical job analysist at Dalhousie University. At the university she was also involved in some of the earliest attempts at reconciling the inequity in women’s pay as compared with men doing the same work. A passionate artist having painted and sketched for many years, in 1974 she enrolled in a BFA program in Art and Design with a concentration in Jewelry at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Her main media was silver and enamels, but she was constantly innovating and always interested in exploring new materials and techniques. She participated in several artist societies, exhibitions, galleries and had awards and commissions. In her retirement years while travelling, she went back to painting focusing on watercolors and acrylics. Mom was part of Artscapes artist collective for many years and an active participant in her “Brunch Bunch”, another group of wonderful women artists and crafters. As a parent, mom was loving and supportive and encouraged us both to follow our own path. She had a wonderful sense of humour and enjoyed music, art, theatre and nature. Her artistry, coupled with her genuine nature and ability to relate to the younger generation, earned her the “coolest mom” designation among the friend group of her children. She had a sense of adventure whether on short trips around the Maritimes, to a year sabbatical crisscrossing North America or further afield to China, the Gambia, Mexico, Cuba and Europe. She loved food from many countries and enjoyed a glass or two of wine on many social occasions. Frances is predeceased by her husband Richard “Dick” Beis, brothers James “Jim” Clabots, Edward “Ed” Clabots, sisters-in-law Sue Klemas, Margaret “Tanny” Kagerer, Buena Beis and brothers-in-law John and George Beis. She is survived by her children, Jeffrey Beis (Susan Leech), North Vancouver, BC and Jill Beis (Graham Collins), Halifax, NS and grandchildren, Billie, Sam and Cameron. Brothers Gerald “Gerry” Clabots, Green Bay, WI (Della), Joseph “Joe” Clabots, Sturgeon Bay, WI, sister-in-law, Gloria Clabots, Green Bay, WI, many nieces and nephews and her close friend, Shirley Dean, Halifax, NS. A sincere thank you for the kindness, caring, and professionalism of the staff of Fisherman’s Landing, Ivany Place for being a part of mom’s journey in life. We could not have asked for anything better. A celebration of life to be announced to direct friends and family for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in mom’s name to Northwood Foundation: https://northwood.care/northwood-foundation

Frances Mary Beis

May 12, 1937 - July 6, 2023