Obituary of Agnes Ellen Francis

The death of Agnes Ellen (Nicholls-Bannister) Francis, widow of Gordon Francis, occurred at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Sunday, March 20, 2005. Mrs. Francis was born in Zionville, N.B., a daughter of the late Alfred and Agnes (Gallagher) Nicholls, and had resided the greater part of her life in Saint John, where she was a member of the Buffalo Club and the City Market Seniors Club. She was an avid bingo player. Besides her husband, she was pre-deceased by her first husband, Frederick Bannister; three brothers, William, Alfred, and Delbert Nicholls; and one sister, Elizabeth Fullerton. She is survived by two sons, Brian Bannister (Susan) and William Bannister (Lucy), both of Saint John; seven daughters, Kathryn Sullivan of Fredericton, Margaret Smith (Vance) and Koreen O'Brien (Paul), both of Hamilton, Ont.,Patricia Roy, Gwendolyn Gillies (Arnie), Beverley Cormier (Donnie), and Bonnie Duffy (Patrick) with whom she made her home, all of Saint John; two sisters, Beryla Craig of Taymouth, N.B., and Helen Dorcas of Fredericton; 19 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and her special friend, Gertrude Banks. Resting at Fitzpatrick's Funeral Home, 100 Waterloo St., with visiting on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. Service will be held at the Salvation Army Church on Thursday afternoon at one o'clock. Entombment will take place at Fernhill Vault with interment in Fernhill Cemetery later in the spring.