Francoise Betters

Francoise (Frances) Mae Betters passed away Saturday, December 16th, in Chardon, OH, at the age of 81 after a brief illness. Born in Saranac Lake on May 21, 1936 to the late Mae Beaubien Betters and Percy D. Betters, she attended Saranac Lake High School (Class of 1954) where she was captain of the Pep Squad. During her high school years, Fran worked at Santa's Workshop at Whiteface Mountain, where she played the part of Snow White. After graduating from SLHS, she attended Plattsburgh State Teachers College, where she worked toward her B.S. degree in Education. In the late 1950’s, she moved to Albany where she worked for NY Telephone and met her former husband, the late Martin A. Komertz. After marrying in 1958, they moved to Dayton, Ohio, where Mr. Komertz was stationed while in the U.S. Air Force. In the early 1960s, they moved to Worcester, MA where they raised their children and where Fran attended Clark University while continuing to work toward her degree in Education. While in Worcester, she was involved in the Nelson Place Players school fundraising actors group as well as the PTA. During her time in Massachusetts, Fran enjoyed spending many summers in East Sandwich on Cape Cod, where she enjoyed a cottage on the ocean. In 1974, she and her children moved to Detroit, where she completed her B.S. in Education at Wayne State University. The mid 1970's brought a move to Cleveland, where Fran became an elementary and junior high school substitute teacher while she worked toward a nursing degree at Huron Road Hospital, subsequently becoming an RN specializing in Psychiatry. She worked at The Cleveland Clinic for many years before moving to Deerfield Beach, Florida in the late 1980’s, where she lived until 2015. While in Florida, Fran served as a home health nurse.

She always had very fond memories of her childhood in Saranac Lake and made many visits back to the area to visit family and friends and to participate in Saranac Lake High School reunions. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, loved travelling, country music, and as a lifelong member of the Republican Party, always loved to talk politics.

Fran was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend who will be missed immensely by all who knew her, especially her son, Martin (Kimberly) Komertz of Chardon, OH, her daughter Mala Komertz Meehan (Jamie) of Parkland FL, her grandsons Martin Komertz, Corey Komertz, Austin Meehan, Michael Komertz, Shane Meehan, and Daniel Komertz, her sister Dorothy Smith (James O.) of Cranberry Township, PA, nieces and nephews, as well as her close friend Edgardo Aro.

Calling hours are set to take place from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM on Saturday May 19, 2018 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake. Burial will follow in St. Bernard’s Cemetery.

Friends wishing to remember Fran may make memorial contributions to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.