Aneurysm takes school teacher

Fran Thorn, 52, died on Thursday, April 8 at St. Charles Medical Center. She had suffered a brain aneurysm while having lunch with a friend in Sisters on April 1.

"We were talking and laughing when she put her head gently down on the table," said her lunch companion, Elizabeth Renner.

Fran received CPR from another diner who happened to be in the restaurant. Sisters emergency medical technicians were on the scene quickly. Fran was flown by AirLife to St. Charles.

Despite these efforts, she never regained consciousness.

Fran was a highly respected and much loved teacher at Sisters Elementary School. Laurine Clemens will come out of retirement to take over Fran's classes through the end of the school year.

"Laurine has the advantage that she knows the families of many of the children, and she knows our school," said Principal Tim Comfort. "Of course, no one can take the place of Fran. She was so special in so many ways."

Comfort said that the school would hire a new teacher next year, although classes may be reassigned and the new teacher may not teach the same class that Fran taught.

On Tuesday, April 13 there was to be a Mass of Christian Burial at the St. Edwards Catholic Church in Sisters. A private internment at Camp Polk Cemetery was to follow the Mass.A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, April 15 at the Sisters High School Commons at 6 p.m.

Contributions made to the Sisters Schools Foundation in the name of Fran Thorn will be used to purchase books for the Sisters Elementary School Library.