Frances Marek

Frances Schilling Marek, 88, of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2023. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 4, 1935 to Donald and Ruth Schilling and lived a full and adventurous life.

Due to her father’s military service, she lived in France for a time after high school graduation. She married, and her first son was born in Paris.

Fran moved back to the states and continued to expand her family. In 1963 she married again and moved to Florissant, Missouri when her husband was hired at McDonnell Douglas. She eventually had a total of seven children.

While raising her children, Fran was active in the PTA and was a Girl Scout leader. She canned and froze vegetables grown in the huge garden behind the house. She loved spending time with her family, and they often went camping and water skiing. Fran was also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.

In her later years Fran met and married Don Marek, Sr. She moved to Lake St. Louis and enjoyed living on the lake and traveling with Don. During this time, she started teaching ESL classes for several years at St. Charles Community College. She taught ESL classes well into her 70s.

Fran was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was always there for her family and friends, and she always put their needs before her own. She had a boisterous laugh and never met a stranger. She was a kind and generous person, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Fran is survived by her children, Denny Fogal, Connie Hellyer, Jim Fogal, Tim Fogal, and Elizabeth Hutson, her siblings, Pat and Don, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Don Marek Sr., sister Sue, brother Bill and sons Doug Fogal and David Bertorello.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, July 23, 2023, at a location TBD. As a final gift, Fran donated her body to the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center at Washington University. Information about the program can be found using this link:

https://knightadrc.wustl.edu/donate/