Mary Frances (Cuddington) Hellyer passed away peacefully at Castle Creek Memory Care on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015.
She was born in Goldsboro on Dec. 27, 1934, the daughter of the late Mattie B. and Richard H. Cuddington. She was predeceased by her three brothers, Lester, Cedric and Herman Cuddington, as well as her sister Anne (Cuddington) Roethlinger and her beloved grandson Ryan Owen.
She was a graduate of Goldsboro High School in Goldsboro, and worked with Bell South as a telephone operator in Goldsboro for many years. She moved to Wilmington in 1968 to be closer to her family, as well as to be near the beach she loved so dearly.
She was known to most as “Fran” and never met a stranger. She loved people and always had a smile. Her passion was fishing from Johnnie Mercer’s Pier or Wrightsville Beach sound. It was the thrill of the catch that made her happy.
She is survived by her three children, Kathryn Fallon, husband Jim with daughter Samantha; Curtis Wasner, wife Alice with daughter Susan and son Steven; and Richard Cheshire, wife Melinda, with daughter Stephanie and sons Wesley and Mike, all of Wilmington. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren. We also want to recognize all of the many nieces and nephews that loved her and whom she loved so dearly.
Mary Frances did not want a funeral or anything formal when she passed, only to have a yellow rose bush planted in her memory. A celebration of her life will be held, on a date to be announced, with family members at her daughter Kathryn’s home.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to recommend a donation in Fran’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association to help them in the research and treatment of dementia. This disease takes too many lives before their time.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Atlantic Cremation Service.
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