Frances P. Kuniholm

ATHOL - Frances P. (Gardner) Kuniholm, 86, died on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. Born in Brooklyn, N.S., to Mr. and Mrs. Edgar R. Gardner, Fran attended the Victoria General Hospital School of Nursing in Halifax, N.S. She traveled to Massachusetts in response to an ad for nursing employment at the Heywood Hospital in Gardner. There, she met her husband of 61 years, Harold Heinrichs Kuniholm. The family has resided in Athol for over 55 years. Fran spent the better part of her life focused on her family and working at Kuniholm Jewelers in Athol. Later in life she worked at the First National Bank until she retired in 1990. Fran loved camping trips to Nova Scotia, needlework, quilting, gardening, bird watching, and having family and friends to the house, but most of all she loved her husband. When Harry was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Fran dedicated herself to him and his care. Frances leaves behind her husband Harold Kuniholm of Athol. She leaves her children, Alan Kuniholm and his wife Marie Dubois of Portland, Maine; Barbara Bellar and husband Don Bellar of Baldwinville; Beverly Abelow and her partner Steve Pratt of Manchester, N.H,; James and Marie Kuniholm of Athol, and Erik and Ruth Kuniholm of South Grafton. She also leaves 10 grandchildren, Kyle Fiske and Chyle Crossley, Jennifer and Jamie Gilman, Ian Kuniholm, Dana Kuniholm, Jeffrey Kuniholm, Matthew Kuniholm, Hannah Abelow, Douglas Abelow, Noah Kuniholm, and Ethan Kuniholm, and one great-grandchild Erica Gilman. Fran also leaves her sister Hilda (Gardner) Emeneau, and brother Murray "Mike" Gardner, and was predeceased by her brother Ross Gardner, all residing in Nova Scotia. The family would like to say a special thank you to Joy Risatti, Frank Gonzales, and his wife Rachel, who helped Fran take care of Harry in the last few years, and to her close friends who supported her during this time. Friends and family are welcome to attend a memorial service on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m., at the Higgins-O'Connor Funeral Home at 146 Main St., Athol. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Fran's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 or online at www.alz.org.