Frances Lee Ohrstedt

Frances Lee Ohrstedt ran to heaven on Nov. 17 at Grant Medical Center after three consecutive pneumonia bouts. She is the daughter of the late Margaret Seman Petry Ohrstedt and Luther Edward Ohrstedt. Surviving are her younger brother and sister-in-law, Charles Luther and Suzanne Brown Ohrstedt, many cousins – Bob Seman of England; Kay Seman Ensign – Dan and Mark; William Harold (Billy), Jennifer and Robert Ohrstedt; Barney, Glen and Gail Reagan and family; Dan and Elaine Schilling families – Johnnie, Jilian and Crystal; Dr. Fred Seman of Rossville, Georgia; Robert, Janice and William Harold Ritchey families. Her current HDC family includes Direct Care Assistants Sondra, Ashley and Jessica; Unit Managers Mary, Dayjanae, Ronica, Melissa and Lena; Program Director Rachel; Occupational Therapist Jeanne; Dieticians Samantha and Alicia; Nurses Laura, Skyy, Jovana, Dawn, David, Nancy and Stephanie; Director of Nursing Sheila; Physician(s) Drs. Patrick Doyle, Willard Fernald, Annemarie Sommer; Director of Social Services Pam Basil; Unit Teachers Gladys and Tom and Behavior Specialist Michael. Special thanks to Drs. Sandra Boyle, David W. and Marian Brown of Perrysburg, David Ralston, Grant’s critical care, palliative and chaplain, Respiratory Therapist Terry and Nurses Sharon, Emily and Bruce. She was featured in the Columbus newspaper for students returning to school, shortly after this she contracted meningitis. She paved the way as one of the first residents at the Heinzerling Developmental Center, 1800 Heinzerling Drive, Columbus, in 1982. She recently represented the center at the Statehouse and was a lifelong Christian. She worked at the ARC West Day Program and at the Fenton and Hague Living Skills Centers. Frannie left working after a hospital stay where she totally recovered. She was baptized at Clinton Heights Lutheran Church along with her brother and 15 others. Her mother against all odds, shared her faith with Frannie after serving as an Army nurse in World War II in Europe and North Africa and then leading a rehabilitation hospital for liberated concentration camp survivors in Florida. She returned to Columbus to be a nurse working in every Columbus hospital and then in home health, but the highlight of her day was to have lunch with Frannie at ARC West or participate in holiday parties and picnics at Heinzerling. Frannie’s father was advertising director for Augsburg Press and then for the American Ceramic Society. He also served in the Army Air Force during World War II and along with his extended family that included the Ritcheys were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Columbus. Her brother wanted to help Frannie so he became a mechanical engineer with a biomedical/safety focus. He continues his engineering to assist others with disabilities. He was the emergency management coordinator for The Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and made special arrangements for those with disabilities to evacuate. In his graduate research studies he developed a psychophysical scale for the human visual system named FLO (Fidelity of Luminous Objects) after his sister and he is now working on a Christian book about the stars. Frannie followed in her family’s footsteps. She was a lifelong church member as a Christian. With the help of Heinzerling, Pastor Mark Diemer, Michael and Central Ohio Transit Authority, she became an active participant at Grace of God during their casual Saturday service with fellow residents and staff. She spearheaded the effort for center residents to attend Grace Polaris’ Living Christmas Trees program for many years. Memorial services: 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Heinzerling Developmental Center, Adult Unit 4, 1800 Heinzerling Drive, Columbus; 5:15 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5 (following 4 p.m. open communion service) at Grace of God Lutheran Church, 1000 Demorest Road, Columbus with reception to follow; Devotion at Grace Polaris’ Living Christmas Trees Program, 8225 Worthington Galena Rd, Westerville at 7:00 p.m. Saturday in the Green Room during Devotions. In lieu of flowers, donations to: Heinzerling Memorial Foundation in her name; Grace of God Lutheran Church Center Outreach; Clinton Heights Lutheran Church HDC Outreach and Grace Polaris’ Living Christmas Trees’ HDC Outreach. Arrangements by: RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME, 2383 North High Street, Columbus.

Frances Lee Ohrstedt

November 17, 2015