Frain Family Matriarch Passes Away

Jean Frain
Jean Frain

The matriarch of a prominent Pulaski County family has died. Jean Frain passed Thursday morning at 10:12 a.m. at Pulaski Health Care Center in Winamac, with her family by her side, one week after her 86th birthday.

She was born Nov. 10, 1930 in Winamac to the late Omer and Eva Clark, was raised on a small farm with her siblings and attended a one-room school.

On May 2, 1948 she married Max Frain at the First Christian Church in Winamac. They celebrated their 64th anniversary prior to his passing on May 17, 2012. Together they owned and operated Frain Mortuary in Winamac and raised four children.

Jean had the distinguished honor of being the First Lady of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association in 1977.

The funeral home remains in the family, with Jean’s son, Dan, and grandson, Jon, continuing the day-to-day operations.

Jean and Max spent many winters in Naples, Fla. after they retired and enjoyed summers at Lake Freeman in Monticello.

She was a member of the First Christian Church in Winamac, where she previously taught Sunday school. Jean was also a former member of the Mother’s Club and Order of Eastern Star, both of Winamac.

Services are Monday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. EST at Frain Mortuary in Winamac, with Rev. Edward Clark officiating. Visitation is Sunday, Nov. 20 from 2 until 6 p.m. EST at the funeral home.

Burial will take place at Winamac Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Riley Children’s Foundation.

Survivors include a daughter, Kathleen Lynette (Robert) Roth of The Villages, Fla.; three sons: Daniel Clyde (Jaqueline) Frain of Winamac, James Lee (Teri) Frain of South Bend and Samuel Joel (Joni) Frain of Westfield; five grandsons: Randall James Roth of Pulaski; Ryan Joseph (Michelle) Roth of Chandler, Ariz., Jon Maxwell Frain of Winamac, Christopher James Frain of Valparaiso and  Joel Robert (Emily) Frain of Indianapolis;  four granddaughters: Stefanie Jeanne Frain of Ft. Myers, Fla., Jennifer Rose (Joseph) Davis of Westfield, Lauren Nicole (David) McNace of Osceola and    Joellyn Renee Frain of Westfield; four great-granddaughters: Madison Michelle Roth,  Dakota Ryan Roth, Ada Rose Davis and Haylee Marie McNace; a great-grandson,  Holden Daniel Frain; two sisters: Marjorie Braun of Winamac and Wilma Swindell of Sparta, Tenn.;  a sister-in-law, Rose Clark of Winamac; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Omer and Eva May Collins Clark; her husband, Maxwell Clyde Frain; a grandson, Jay Daniel Frain; a brother, Archie Clark, and a sister, Violetta Deeds.