Philomena Franz, 96, passed away at St. Joseph Carondelet Manor in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.

Philomena was born in Munjor, Kan., on Dec. 31, 1911, and raised in Ness City, Kan. She was the daughter of Francis and Rosa (Kronawitter) Pfannenstiel. After graduating from Ness City High School, she attended Marymount College in Salina, Kan.

She married Otto Franz in 1935 and they were residents of Hutchinson since 1937.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto, in Nov. 1979, an infant son, William, in 1938, three brothers, Linus, Alfonse and Richard Pfannenstiel, two sisters, Mary Weilert and Anna Droste Harper, and a step-granddaughter, Vickie Nagy.

Philomena was a member of St. Teresa's Church, where she was a rosary leader and a member of the Legion of Mary and the Altar Society. She belonged to the Daughters of Isabella, the Silver Belles, the Jefferson Janes, and was a lay member of the Order of the Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood of Wichita.

Philomena is survived by two daughters, Norma (Jack) Nixon, San Rafael, Calif., Helen Dasta, Kansas City, Mo.; three sons, Donald (Mary), West Patterson, N.J., Edward, Independence, Mo., and Ralph, Gahanna, Ohio; three sisters, Dorothy (Charlie) Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas; and Sisters Loyola and Augusta Pfannenstiel of the Precious Blood Convent in Wichita; 24 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, at St. Teresa's Church, Hutchinson, with Fr. Nicholas Voelker presiding, and burial following in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson.

Memorials may be sent to the church or donor's choice, in care of the mortuary.

Friends may visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.