Fran Hattenburg, 74, of Spokane, passed away on May 12, 2024, in Spokane, WA. Fran, known for her caring nature and ability to make immediate personal connections with others, leaves behind her brother Tom, several cousins, and is preceded in death by her parents and beloved pet dog Racey.

Fran's nursing career spanned a lifetime, starting as a Candy Striper at Deaconess Hospital while in her teen years and culminated with her licensure as a Practical Nurse. She provided compassionate care at Deaconess Hospital, Cliff Manor Nursing Home, and Riverview Nursing Home. Her final act of service was as caregiver to her own mother, demonstrating her selfless nature.

After retirement, Fran continued to share her time and love, providing in-home care for a retired Korean War veteran, where she formed a special bond with fellow nurse Linda, leading to a lifelong friendship and the company of her beloved dog, Racey, for the last decade of her life. She also ran errands and did shopping for a widowed neighbor.

A woman of diverse interests, Fran enjoyed scrapbooking, tending to her garden, and traveling to Colorado. She was also a devout parishioner and choir member at St. Francis Assisi Parish since 1988. Fran was a dedicated advocate for Neurofibromatosis awareness. She was an enthusiastic supporter of Gonzaga basketball and Seahawks football. Close games were marked by logging several miles on her fitness tracker while pacing the house. She was probably best known to friends and family that visited the house that she had a special affection for all things Christmas and went all out decorating the house for the holidays.

Her Irish-German heritage was marked by a stubborn self-sufficient streak which was reflected in improvising home repairs and in her tenacity in fighting cancer. This was balanced by caring, loving persona where she often put the needs of others before herself. She had the ability to connect with people whether in person or across the miles through SparkPeople, an on-line social network dedicated to health and fitness. She maintained several close friendships after SparkPeople ceased operations.

Her indomitable spirit was evident in the way she approached life's challenges, including her courageous battle with cancer. One of the last challenges she faced was losing the ability to use her voice and had to write on a white board. Despite this challenge she still managed to make deeply personal connections with her nurses. The family wishes to thank the nurses at Royal Park for taking such good care of her during her final months.

Fran will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.