Frances B. Piggott

Frances Bertha Piggott 87, of Benton Harbor, passed away Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. Monday June 25, 2012 at St. John’s Catholic Church, 600 Columbus Ave., Benton Harbor, with Fr. William Jacobs and Msgr. Eugene Sears officiating. Burial will follow at Pearl Cemetery in Benton Township. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday June 24, 2012 with a rosary at 7:30 PM Sunday, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to St. John and St. Bernard Parish, Catholic Community Center or Lake Michigan Catholic Schools. Those wishing to sign Frances’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Frances was born November 15, 1924 in Metamora, IL to Vincent & Elizabeth (Schierer) Waldschmidt. She graduated from St. Johns High School in Benton Harbor. On October 20, 1945 she married Laurel “Bud” Piggott in Benton Harbor at St. John’s Catholic Church. Frances and Bud owned and operated L.H. Piggott and Girls Farm until 1995, when they retired. Frances had a deep love and pride for her family and will be deeply missed along with her spectacular homemade pies, which she loved to bake for others. Frances lived a prayerful life and possessed a deep Catholic Faith. She had a passion for supporting, Lake Michigan Catholic Schools, the Catholic Community Center, The Readiness Center and Saints John and Bernard Parish of which she was a member. Frances is survived by her daughters Patrica (David) Lange of Benton Harbor, Lynda Pelkey of Berrien Springs, Mary Sue Newman of Berrien Springs MI, Deborah (Richard) Frain of Bozeman, MT, Laurie (George III) McManus of Benton Harbor, and Kathleen (Christopher ) Jannings of Benton Harbor and her sister Rita Starbuck of Bangor MI. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and her beloved Dog Buddy. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Laurel, her son-in-law Gregory L. Pelkey and grandchildren, Madeline Jannings & Nathanael Pelkey.