Frances C. Hougham

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Frances Catherine Hougham, of Bloomfield Hills MI, who departed this life on December 16, 2024 at the age of 81. She was born April 4, 1943 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Thomas and Sophia Murphy of Marietta, Ohio, along with her sister Marilyn, who preceded her in death.

Frances was a proud graduate of St. Mary Central High School, Class of '61. She then went on to train at Good Samaritan Hospital for nursing. Later she decided business was a better fit and went on to graduate from Mountain State College. She then gained employment at Dravo in Marietta. After moving to Michigan in '79 she attended Macomb Community college where she earned a Degree of Associate of Arts. She then started studies at Oakland University where she studied art and literature until 1984. It was then that she became instrumental in the founding and the building of a successful consulting company with her husband, Stephen, Management Technologies. She was Chief Financial Officer for the next 24 years until her retirement in 2008.

Frances is survived by her husband of 59 years, Stephen S. Hougham, whom she married on January 23,1965, and daughter, Lesa Ann Bydalek. Frances was a loving, caring grandmother to Danielle Frances, Jacquelyn Kay, Victoria Rose, Brandon Stephen, Emily Lynn, Thomas Ian. She was a proud great-grandmother to Luke James, Amelia Catherine, Riley Ann, Wyatt Colt, Walker Case, Leif Christopher and Dahlia Florence.

She was preceded in death by her son, Sean, on October 11, 2023.

Frances enjoyed many different hobbies throughout her life, including camping, bowling, golfing, and traveling. Although only one ‘hobby’ was above all others, reading. To say she loved books would be an understatement. She was always surrounded by books in her reading chair. Over her lifetime she has obtained enough books to fill a library. Her interests were unlimited. She read almost all of the classics. She loved history, art, cooking, gardening, fiction, nonfiction, all perspectives political, autobiographical. She could not get enough. She also loved sharing what she had read and what she was currently ‘in the middle of’. Her daughter believes that once Frances passed through Heaven’s Gates and was reunited with her beloved son, mother, father and sister, then God came to her with Penny, her most cherished dog and lead her to the most spectacular library of all...His.

Funeral Liturgy with Mass to be held at 1:00pm on Friday, December 20, 2024 at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption with the Reverend Monsignor John Michael Campbell celebrating.

CAWLEY & PEOPLES FUNERAL HOME OF MARIETTA is honored to serve the Hougham family and offers online condolences as well as many other resources by visiting www.CawleyandPeoples.com or by following their Facebook page.