Frances Short

Frances Short of Navarino left her loving family on June 30, 2018, after nearly 98 years well lived in gentle kindness and humble generosity to everyone. She was born on September 1, 1920, the first of seven children to Leo and Mary Kleczewski and grew up near Hofa Park.

On November 29, 1944, she married John Short and they worked, prayed and raised a family together on their farm in Navarino until his death on March 6, 2000.

They were blessed with 10 children who survive them and will always hold them in their hearts with deep love and gratitude. She was a dear mother to: Shirley (Keith) Johnson, Betty (Gene) Arendt, Ken (Marge) Short, Don (Carol) Short, Steve (Carol) Short, Norb (Mary) Short, Randy (Jean) Short, Jerry Short, Marie (Steve) Fischer, and Nancy (Dan) Nolan who are left to cherish her memory. She leaves 27 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren (one more is expected) who were a source of great joy. Also surviving are her three sisters: Irene Jarek, Eleanor Georgia, and Florence Baranczyk; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Mike (Mona) Short and Theresa Short; many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by a beloved granddaughter, Megan Short; great-grandson, Jackson Fischer; two sisters and one brother.



Frances had a rich and sustaining faith in God and loved her church family at St. Lawrence Catholic Church where she was a member of the Ladies Society. She found strength and comfort in her faith, and always saw the good in everyone and welcomed everyone into her home with fresh baked cookies, cakes, and pies.

Friends may call at Muehl-Boettcher Funeral Home, Seymour, on Monday, July 2, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm with a parish prayer service at 7:30 pm. Visitation will continue at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Navarino, on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 from 9:30 am until the funeral mass at 11:00 am with Fr. Theodore Hendricks officiating. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed to Frances’s family at www.muehlboettcher.com

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Frances’s memory.

Special thank you to all of Frances’s loving caregivers at Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Seymour who quickly grew to love her too, over the last year and a half. Thank you also to Unity Hospice for compassionate care given to our mom.