Frances Ann Miller

The angels welcomed Frances Ann (Nyers) Miller home on April 6, 2021. She passed away peacefully with her husband and daughter by her side. Fran, 71, was born to Stephen Nyers Jr. and Yolanda (Tubicsak) Nyers on July 26, 1949, in South Bend. 

After graduating from St. Joseph’s High School in 1967, Fran attended Butler University.  She joined Alpha Chi Omega sorority and was selected to be a “Kennedy Girl” for one of Robert Kennedy’s presidential campaign trips. Later, she became friends with her future husband, Gary. The two married in 1970, 50 years and 10 months to the day of Fran’s passing. 

Fran left college early and worked as a bank teller and for the US Census. When the couple settled in Michigan, she returned to school and also became a writing tutor. In 1987, she earned an Associate degree with honors from Washtenaw Community College, and then graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1992. Washtenaw then hired her as an English instructor, and she taught there for 12 years.

Fran was known for giving the BEST hugs. She had the biggest heart and loved her family more than anything. She was a creative soul who connected with art, music, writing, nature, and animals. Her laptop was a constant companion, and she enjoyed reading and researching, Pinterest-ing, keeping up with family on Facebook, or playing puzzles and games on it. She also enjoyed teaching her family that you can’t beat an English teacher at Scrabble, nor a history, science, music, and literature buff at Jeopardy.

Fran will be incredibly missed by her husband Gary and daughter Julie, both of Ann Arbor, MI; her brothers Stephen (June) Nyers III of Granger, Chuck (Colleen) Nyers of South Bend, and Leslie Nyers of South Bend; her niece Andrea Gordon of South Bend, who was like a younger  sister and second daughter; uncle Alex (Irma) Nyers of South Bend; her godchildren Christopher Nyers of Prattville, AL, Constance Nyers of Claremont, CA, and Paul (Marcy) Lyzun of Elkhart; her “grand” godchildren Heather and Collin Gordon of South Bend; many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews (including great- and great-great ones); loving in-laws; and her sweet, little namesake Ione Frances Duran of Claremont, CA.

In addition to her parents, Fran was predeceased by a baby she miscarried, her sisters Yolanda “Lanka” Smith and Alethea “Lee” Evans, and several beloved dogs and grand-dogs. There is no doubt that Fran is enjoying finally being reunited with those whom she had missed so much.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 15, 2021, from 4-8 pm at Palmer Funeral Home – River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 pm, and then remembrances will be shared by those who would like to say a few words; a Zoom link will be available as well. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Father Kevin Bauman at 11:00 am on Friday, April 16, 2021, at Our Lady of Hungary Church, 829 W. Calvert St., South Bend. Visitation will be available at 10 am, and the mass will be recorded. Fran will then be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Face masks and social distancing will be required for safety. To receive details to take part in events remotely, please email memorialforfrances@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Fran’s memory to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Best Friends Animal Society, or the American Cancer Society.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.