Franella Jane Kirk

Franella “Fran” Jane (Kidney) Kirk, 96 years old, joined her Lord and Savior on September 11, 2026. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by family. She was born July 20, 1930, at Cook County Hospital, Highland Park, Illinois to the late Clifford Kidney and Alta (Hutson) Kidney. She was raised by her mother and her grandfather, Benjamin Hutson, in Woodstock, Illinois.

In 1940 when she was in the 6th grade, Fran and her mother moved to Goshen, Indiana where she would then graduate from Goshen High School in 1948. Following her graduation from high school, she pursued her passion for nursing, and she attended Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in South Bend, Indiana where she graduated in 1951.

While in nursing school Fran met Robert Ruff and they were married in 1952. Soon after they were married, Robert, who had been a Civil engineer, decided to pursue a career in the ministry. Fran and Robert were instrumental in expanding the church in Hall, Indiana. They would then move on to Murray, Kentucky, then Denton, Texas and lastly Muncie, Indiana. They also served as missionaries in Jamacia and helped rebuild a church there after it was damaged by a hurricane.

Fran and Robert welcomed 3 children, Rachel Ann, Deborah Jean and Mary Ann. When Robert left the family in 1967, Fran became a single mother and went back to work as a nurse at Ball Memorial Hospital where she worked for over 20 years before she retired. While working for Ball Memorial in the Coronary Care Unit she met the love of her life, Richard “Andy” Anderson, who was a patient there. Andy had suffered a heart attack while traveling through Indiana on his way to Florida. They were married in 1973 at Hazelwood Christian Church where Fran was a member.

As a member of Hazelwood Christian Church in Muncie, Fran would serve as a Deacon and an Elder as well as being active in the women’s group and the church choir. Fran and Andy also volunteered for Christian Ministries for several years.

Once they were married, Fran and Andy moved from Muncie to Blountsville where they bought a small farm. They enjoyed farming, gardening, raising chickens, hogs, and riding horses. They unofficially adopted a few of Mary’s classmates who have remained close to Fran up until her death.

After Fran retired from nursing, she and Andy went on to get their real estate licenses. Fran loved helping people find their perfect home and would eventually become a real estate broker. As a Broker she and Andy formed their own real estate company called Frandy Real Estate.

After 26 years of marriage, Andy was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. Fran sold the farm and moved back to Muncie where she worked for ReMax Realty for a few years.

In 2006, Fran married a widower from her church, Donald Kirk. They were married for 10 years before Don passed away.

Fran then chose to move into an Independent Senior Community, The Reserve at Hamilton Trace, to be closer to her youngest daughter, Mary. She made several friends while living at The Reserve and was involved in the prayer group, the book club, the nurse’s group, euchre club and she began painting in a watercolor class.

Fran’s life centered around being a faithful servant of God, sharing her faith and showing others the love of Christ. Fran lived a full and wonderful life and although she had many hardships she touched so many lives. She loved people fiercely and was a kind and compassionate person to all those she met. She had a quick wit and sense of humor and loved to laugh. She had a way of making people feel special.

Fran is survived by her three daughters, Rachel (Mark) Syska of Downingtown, PA, Deborah (Kevin) Dobecki of South Bend, IN, and Mary (Todd) Troup of Fishers, IN. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Chris and Dan Dobecki, Xander and Natalie Syska, and Carleen, Alea, and Andrew Troup; as well as four great grandchildren, Grant and Clark Dobecki and Kaliyah and Delilah Troup.

Visitation will be held on Sunday September 20th from 2-4pm at Randall and Roberts Fishers Mortuary, 12010 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN. At the end of the visitation there will be a short ceremony performed by the Central Indiana Nurses Honor Guard.

Her funeral will be held on at 11am on Monday, September 21st at Hazelwood Christian Church, 1400 W. University Ave, Muncie, IN, officiated by Reverend Eric Brotheridge. There will be a visitation starting at 10:30am prior to the funeral.

A private family burial is planned to follow the funeral at Elm Ridge Memorial Park in Muncie in the “Hero’s” section next to her late husband, Richard Anderson, who fought in WW2.

Contributions can be made in her honor to Hazelwood Christian Church, 1400 W University Ave, Muncie, IN 47303. Checks should be made out to Hazelwood Christian Church with her name in the memo and either mailed to or taken to the church.