Mary Frances (Sieja) Slahetka, 87 of Bethany Beach, DE passed away on March 22, 2025 in her home. She was born November 1, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois a daughter of the late Eugene John Sieja and Lucy Sobolewska Sieja.

Fran grew up in Chicago, Illinois and attended St. Ladislaus Elementary School and Good Counsel High School. In 1957, she graduated from Oak Park Hospital School of Nursing in Oak Park, Illinois. Fran enjoyed her nursing career, working mainly in long term care.

In 1958, she married Frank Slahetka and moved to Wheaton, MD in 1963. As the family grew, they moved to Burtonsville, MD. Fran worked in nursing homes in the area and did Utilization Review.

Fran retired to the Salt Pond Community in Bethany Beach in 1995. She was active in several clubs including the Sodality at St. Ann's and the Salt Pond Women's Club. She volunteered in these organizations as an officer and as a coordinator of activities. She was a dedicated member of St. Ann's church where she had the special privilege of being lector for many years.  She also volunteered at St. Ann's Annual Summer Bazaar.

Fran enjoyed walking, reading books that covered a broad spectrum of topics, and was active in the book clubs at Salt Pond Book Club and South Coastal Library.  She liked to do counted cross stitch and loved crocheting blankets for others. The walls of her home are decorated with many of her projects.

In addition to her parents, Fran is preceded in death by her sisters Mary Lou Sieja and Mary Coletta Dillenburg as well as Coletta's husband Joseph. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Francis John Slahetka; her children, Elizabeth Glenn (Jon), Tom Slahetka (Alicia), Cathy Cornell (Dan), Mary Long (Dale), Ann Winklbauer (Kevin), Marla Ord (Mike); 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Fran is also survived by nieces and nephews of the Dillenburg family.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2025 from 10 to 11 A.M. at St. Ann's Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach, DE followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M. Interment will be held privately at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Dagsboro, DE.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in Fran's name to St. Vincent de Paul Society, PO Box 879, Ocean View, DE 19970.