Frances Joan Long

“Fran was born on November 5, 1956, the only child of Marjorie and Francis Long. Tragedy came early for Fran. At the age of eleven she lost her mother. Her father never remarried, and without the protective eyes and loving care of a mother, Fran grew up in an often solitary environment. She developed a love of reading at an early age, and as she grew into adulthood, it became a steady and enduring love throughout her life. She attended Manual High School, where her intellectual skills became a source of pride for her and earned her a college scholarship. She entered Marian University (College) in the fall of 1974 as a commuter student. During her freshman year, her father died, and she subsequently became a campus resident. Her college years became a time of growing into a caring and giving young woman who formed lasting friendships. After graduation, she began to work full-time at the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library (IMCPL), where she remained employed for the rest of her life. She was a regular at church, counted the collections, and enjoyed the music very much. She had no family of her own, but Fran adored her godchildren and delighted in spending quality time with them. She shared her home with her beloved orange tiger cat, Balli. A sign on her door proclaimed “A spoiled cat lives here.”

Fran enjoyed quiet activities like reading, crocheting, and relaxing at the lake with her cousins and friends. It may surprise some that she traveled to so many places around the world and took a great number of photos to remember these good times. She loved stories of all kinds, whether through books, movies or live performances. This led to her volunteering with Storytelling Arts of Indiana beginning in 1988. Over the next decades, she became the indispensable, reliable, and able assistant who arrived early, set up the merchandise and staffed the table at events around town. She often took her vacations to be able to volunteer or travel to the National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee. Recognizing how important this organization was to her, memorial contributions may be made to Storytelling Arts of Indiana, 450 W. Ohio St, Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Fran had a shy and retiring personality, but to those who knew her well, she was a loyal and committed friend whose kind and gentle ways endeared her to all.”