Frances Sandkam

Barrington Hills, Illinois,Frances Viola Sandkam, nee Penne, 87 of Barrington passed away at home on September 15, 2010. Born Frances Viola Penne in St Joseph, Missouri, on April 24, 1923, she was the first child of J Glenn and Elva (nee Ogden) Penne. Her family moved to Brookfield, IL, where Frances was raised along with her brothers and sisters: Michael, Myrtle Kessel, Ruth Hupp, William, Elberta Buchholz and the late Harold. Frances graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School in 1941. She was the loving wife of the late Robert H Sandkam of Oak Park, whom she married on June 20 1942. They resided in Chicago?s west and northwest suburbs except during the mid-1960s when they lived in Bon Air, VA. They raised six children: Bruce of Charles City, VA; Aleta (Ronald) Blue of Severna Park, MD; Gregory (Ellen) of Wauconda, IL; Jeffrey (Tracy) of St Charles, IL; Marla (David) Thoma of Barrington and the late Robert C. Sandkam. She was the proud grandmother of eleven and great grandmother of nine. Frances? greatest joy was the care and development of young children. She embraced the Montessori teaching methods and provided pre-school child care in her home for many years. In 1985 she co-founded Creative Care Children?s Center in Barrington with her daughter, Marla. In 1987 she earned an Associate?s Degree in Childhood Education from Harper Community College. In recent years Frances suffered declining health and was beset by dementia but she remained spirited, declaring in her last months that she intended to return to school to become a teacher. The visitation will be held on Friday, September 17 from 3-8 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St.,(Lake-Cook Rd.), Barrington. A farewell gathering will be held on Saturday, September 18 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer?s Association, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Ste. 800 Chicago, IL 60631.

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