Frances Marie Christian

Frances Marie (Gaudiano) Christian, age 67, a life long Houstonian, passed away on Fri. Dec. 11, 2009 after a 4 year battle with ovarian cancer. She was born to Pete & Frances (Bonno) Gaudiano on Dec. 20, 1941. She married John D. Christian, who proceeded her in death, during the summer of 1999 after 34 years of marriage. She is survived by her mother Frances, age 96. She is also survived by her 2 children; daughter Linda & husband Ken Fisher, & 4 grandchildren; Amanda, Brittany, Ryan & Daniel of Sachse, TX and her son David, of Houston. Other family members include her brother Anthony & sister-in-law Cheryl Gaudiano of Panama City, FL and her brother Saverio (Mike) & sister-in-law Mona Gaudiano of Seabrook, TX and numerous nieces & nephews. Frances started off her schooling years attending Immaculate Conception Catholic School & then Edison Jr. High. While attending Austin High School, she was very involved with the Scottish Brigade. After graduation in 1959, she went on to U of H & in 1963 earned a BS in Merchandising & Retailing & minored in Bus. Admin.
While growing up, she developed an early love of dancing that carried her through to the end of her life. Frances was known to many as “Twinkle Toes”. Her love of dance included: tap, jazz, ballet, square dance, clogging, whip, ballroom & especially Argentine Tango with her husband John.

Her first dance lessons started at Mason Park & continued to her teen years. Frances was part of a local group called the Sheltonettes who performed at amateur shows around the city & at the Music Hall. Along with a friend, they performed locally with Siros the Great. While attending U of H, Frances was part of the 75th MAC ROTC sponsors and was on the Foley’s College Board & won numerous sewing contests. With all the activities she was involved in, it was a wonder she had time to attend school. After marriage, she briefly left Texas while John was stationed in AL. Upon their return a year later, they settled in south east Houston. During her lifetime, she raised a family and worked at both Lewis & Park Place Elem in HISD. One Christmas, about 10 years into their marriage, John offered to take ballroom lessons with Frances until he was as good as she was. These were lessons that continued for both of them for life.

Upon becoming a widow, dirt gathered no dust under her feet for long. Frances dealt with her grief not surprisingly, by filling her days with dance. The mornings included teaching tap to seniors at the Beverly Hills Rec. Center, Strawberry Park & other centers in Pasadena. After taking over for the previous dance teacher, Frances led the Silver Star Tappers at the Madison Jobe Senior Center where the group performed nearly 60 shows a year at many locations around the city.

Her evenings were spent square dancing and especially ballroom. She was a long time member of the Two Left Feet & the Mainland Ballroom Dance Clubs. Other clubs she was involved with were the Houston Argentine Tango Assoc., Silver Star Line Dancers, Syncopation Cloggers, Swinging Seniors & Garden Villas Square Dance Clubs, Scottish Brigade Alumni Assoc., historian of SFA Alumni Board, & the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Society. Her other hobbies included gardening & Senior Olympics.

In the last few years, her love of dance led to a new direction: entering Senior Pageants. While teaching tap at the Madison Jobe Senior Center, she was encouraged by the staff to enter the Ms. Pasadena Senior Pageant. After winning that and Ms. Houston, she went on later to win the state title of Ms. Senior Sweetheart. This led to nationals where she met numerous other active seniors who all became good friends. Competing in pageants allowed her to perform in front of crowds & show that getting older doesn’t mean sitting around waiting for life to happen. Frances grabbed life by the horns & showed it what she wanted most. She will be dearly missed by her family, friends & all who knew her!

Pallbearers are: Jesse Ashley, Jose' Guadiano, Dean Myers, Bill Nielsen, John Ruhberg & Larry Smith.

A rosary will be held on Mon. Dec. 14, at 7:00PM at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church located at 10727 Hartsook in Houston. (Take the Almeda-Genoa/South Shaver exit from I-45.) Visitation for family & friends will be from 5:00-9:00PM.

The funeral mass will take place on Tues. Dec. 15, at 10:00AM, followed by burial at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery. A luncheon will be served at the church after interment.

In lieu of flowers, Frances requested donations be made in her memory to the following foundation:
 
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
230 W. Monroe, Suite 2528
Chicago, IL 60606
Karen Carlson, Executive Director
Phone: 312.578.1439