Frances Elizabeth "Fran" Grauch, 74 years of age, died of leukemia on July 4th, 2015, at her home in Severna Park, Md. surrounded by loved ones. Fran was born on March 24, 1941 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to parents Frank and Marie Myers. She graduated from Notre Dame High School and attended Villanova University's nursing program.

Fran was deeply dedicated to humanitarian, social-justice and women's rights issues her entire life. In 1979 she co-founded the first Hospice in the state of Maryland. Arundel Hospice later renamed 'Hospice of the Chesapeake' was co-founded with Martha O'Herlihy, Mary Ellen Blondell, Norman Lambert, and Dr. James Benjamin, which she then operated from her home in Severna Park for several years before moving into donated office space. Their efforts that enabled Hospice Care for 5 patients in 1979 now currently serves over 475 active patient cases throughout Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. Fran initially held the positions of President and Chairman of the Board, and her efforts were most recently recognized in 2009 as a Hospice Beacon of Hope Honoree following 30 years of continuous Hospice Care in Maryland. She was also instrumental, through her testimony before State Legislative committees in 1979, to convince Maryland lawmakers to allow Hospice services to be provided in the state. Fran was also awarded the Caroline Brady Humanitarian Award in 1982 by the Anne Arundel County Council, and the Community Service Award in 1982 by the Severna Park Chamber of Commerce.

Fran was an extremely active volunteer in Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church and later became their first female Eucharistic Lay Minister in 1976. She played a leadership role in developing many ministries at the church in the early 1970's including their food pantry and Vietnam refugee resettlement program. She was also appointed as a 'Women in Ministry Designee' by the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1975.

Fran married Rowland "Ron" Grauch, Jr. in 1962 at the Chapel of Villanova University, and moved to Severna Park in 1974 with their children Ted and Pam. Fran was happiest when gardening, travelling and spending time with her grandchildren Drew Grauch and Nikolas Harbeson.

Fran is preceded in death by her parents Frank and Marie Myers of Villanova, Pennsylvania, brother Vincent Myers of Havertown, Pennsylvania, and Kevin Malley of Charleston, South Carolina. She is survived by Ron Grauch, Ted Grauch and Pamela Grauch Harbeson; as well as sisters Christine Malley of Charleston, South Carolina and Ann Kosco of North Hutchinson Island, Florida, and her devoted friend Mary Foley of Severna Park, Maryland. She is also survived by her grandchildren Drew Grauch and Nikolas Harbeson, as well as many nieces and nephews.

All are invited to a Memorial Gathering and Wake Prayer for Fran Grauch to be held on Friday July 10th, 2015 from 4pm to 7p.m. at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park. An open reception will follow from 7pm to 9pm at Brian Boru Restaurant and Irish Pub directly next door.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2015, at Our Lady of the Fields Church, 1070 Cecil Avenue, South, Millersville, Maryland 21108. Columbarium Inurnment will immediately follow the liturgy on church grounds, with a reception to follow in the Church Hall.

The family would like to thank Mary Foley, Dr. Marsha Blakeslee, Mike Rose, Paul Fuger, and all of Fran's closest neighbors and friends who enabled her to live independently during her years of illness.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, Anne Arundel County Administrative Offices, attn: Frances E. Grauch Memorial Fund, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122