Frances J. Tamimie

Frances Johanna (Eischens) Tamimie of Urbana, formerly of Galesburg, passed peacefully from this life at 11:40 am November 24, 2008 at home surrounded by her family.              Frances was born in New Prague, Minnesota to John and Mary Svoboda Eischens, the seventh of 12 children.  She graduated from New Prague High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from St. Catherine’s College.  Enlisting in the Army Nursing Corps during WWII Frances served in England and post war Germany.              Her fondest recollection of that time was tending to a wounded GI named Ted Williams of baseball fame, though the injury was tonsillitis!  She also remembered a month long furlough traveling throughout England with her girlfriend and seeing the Wimbledon tennis finals with Pancho Gonzales.              After completing her Masters in Nursing from the University of Minnesota, Frances married Hakki Tamimie and moved to his native Iraq following his PHD completion at the University of Illinois.              Frances and family returned to the US from Iraq in 1963 where she taught nursing at the Galesburg State Research Hospital as well as at Carl Sandburg Community College.  Retiring in 1988, Frances pursued her love of reading, gardening, entering several mini marathons, and most of all loving her family.  She will be dearly missed by all who remember her gentle touch and sweet smile.              Surviving are a brother Dick Eischens of New Prague, Minnesota, sisters Dorothy Wagner and Delores Wagner of Jordan, Minnesota, sister Betty Leenay of Minneapolis, and sister Alice Jurichko of Estherville, Iowa.              Surviving are a son H. David (Rose), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a son Dr. R. Joseph (Portia) of New Orleans and Rochester, New York, a son Harith (Debbie) of Urbana.  A daughter Nawal passed away in 1991.  Frances is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.               A funeral mass will be celebrated at 9:30 AM on Saturday November 29, 2008 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6-8 PM on Friday November 28, 2008 at Watson Funeral Home.  The rosary will be prayed at 8 p.m.  Rev. Ernest Pizzamiglio will preside over both services.  Memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.