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In Memoriam

Devonne Kathy DeFrantz Keevers, March 7, 1948–January 9, 2021

Devonne at Left with One of Her Showers on Wheels Moms

(Please leave your greetings in the comment form, below.)

Devonne was born in Stockton, eldest child of a school-teacher, James DeFrantz, born 1920, and a nursing educator, Roberta nee Dennis, born 1922. Devonne had two brothers, Dale (deceased) and Michael. She lived on Los Angeles Street in Stockton. Her dogs were Sisi, Jeanine, Bubbles and Ebony. As a child she and Dale rode on the back of their family pig.

Devonne had five children, Christopher (1969), Jonathan (1982), Heather (1983), Kimberly (1985), and Matthew (1987).

Devonne’s grandchildren are Anthony Sr., Janessa, Hope, Rodrigo, Jacob, Otis and Philomena. Devonne’s great-grandchildren are Elizabeth, Alfons, Alicia, Victoria, and Anthony Jr.

Devonne received a Bachelor degree from CSUS. She studied bacteriology and cello. As a bacteriology student, she was able to solve problems the instructor couldn’t solve. Devonne could produce accurate answers to calculus problems off the top of her head without using calculus, and she was an ace at solving quick math problems. Once Devonne wrote a musicology paper for the department chair, which was at first rejected because it was too insightful and presumed to be plagiarism, until Devonne provided the instructor with the research notes and it was acknowledged that her work was far superior to the standard of undergraduates.

Devonne with her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Devonne was maried to William on July 24, 1981.

Shortly before her death, Devonne led the musical arrangement of the pre-Victorian poem “The Virgin” by William Wordsworth (1820), which is renowned for the line “our tainted nature’s solitary boast”; Devonne is credited as the arranger, having specified how the musical form would be adapted with more verses than are present in the original metrical index, the number of syllables of the original Old 124th hymn tune, and Devonne decided how the melody would be adapted, where certain rises and falls would occur; the song is at http://www.sing-prayer.org/anthems-of-the-immaculate-virgin-mary-star-of-the-sea#OurTaintedNaturesSolitaryBoast.

Devonne was a school teacher at Immaculate Conception School, Sacramento, in the early 1990s. During Devonne’s first year as teacher, she had 6 ADHD students in a single second-grade class–it would be remarked that what Devonne didn’t know about ADHD wasn’t worth knowing. Mrs. Keevers produced the performance of a student play which she wrote. Devonne was a humble and resolute truth-teller, insisting on the basis of Catholic teaching that the responsibility for conveying “the facts of life” rests with the parents–and paying the price for her witness without complaint. To the end Devonne was a teacher, really sacrificing her life to help ensure her grandchildren got their education. Devonne was a true hero.

Devonne was President of a small, private non-profit charity, Showers on Wheels, which gave baby showers with car seats, blankets (thanks to project Linus), baby clothes and things, and diapers. Devonne gave parties to 275 Moms at Showers on Wheels baby showers from 2008 to 2015.

Devonne interviewed about Showers on Wheels by Bob Dunning on the Bishop’s Radio Hour on May 25, 2015

Devonne was married to William for 39 years.

“I don’t want to hear cute, I want to hear successful …”

They were married in the Catholic Church, at Sacred Heart Parish on J Street in Sacramento, on July 24, 1981.

Memorial Hymn, Hopes for Devonne’s Release From Purgatory and Entrance into the Beatific Vision
Click the Button to sing the prayer, or play the song in a New Window

Unto Her, for whom this Day
Right Reverend Msgr. H.T. Henry Nicola A. Montani
1. Unto her, for whom, this day;
Juste judex ultionis
(Just Judge of Retribution)
We in love and pity pray;
Donum fac remissionis.
(Grant her the gift of release)
(Refrain)
Refrain:
Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona ei requiem.
Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona ei requiem.

(Holy Lord Jesus
Grant her rest.)
2. When at Judgement she shall stand,
Rex tremendae majestatis,
(Immensely Majestic King)
Grant her what Thy love hath planned,
Qui salvandos salvas gratis.
(Who freely saves the needy)
(Refrain)
3. She hath fought the gallant fight
Inter oves locum praesta,
(Provide her a place among Your lambs)
Lead her on to Heaven’s light
Statuens in parte dextra.
(Send her to Your right hand.)
(Refrain)
Devonne crying while processing into the wedding of her daughter, Heather.


Hymns for the Release From Purgatory of the Holy Souls

Devonne’s Ring – with five fruits of her body

All Ready to Fly
To Get Her New, Best Dog.

Devonne says she loves you.

Devonne, “we saw a meteor shower last night. It was AWESOME! I saw two meteors! Ooh!”

Devonne’s funeral will be held at
St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, 65th and Fruitridge, Sacramento
Tuesday February 23, 2021
9:00 Visitation
10:00 Mass
11:00 Burial
Marian Altar (TLM)
(The Holy Family Shrine is in front of the only terra-cotta, sloped roof, all others are flat.) The burial area is named after the martyr, St. Andrew Kim Taegon.

20 replies on “In Memoriam”

You are resting joyfully and heavily in the love of the Lord, there is no doubt in my mind! You were an inspiration to so many in loving all of God’s children…May all the joy you gave away be bursting through your soul in your new home. What a privilege to know you…

I love you Momma. You are the sweetest Mom ever. I will miss you very much. I will think of you always. Thank you for being My Mom.

Thank you sooo much for this! Her laugh and voice just brought me such joy at such a difficult time. As a correction, Devonne was a grandmother to seven (Anthony, Janessa, and Otis) and a great grandmother to five children (Elizabeth, Alicia, Victoria, Anthony Jr. And Alfons). We also all miss you dearly and are lost without you… until we meet again, may you rest peacefully and save us a place.

Devonne, what a beautiful lady, both inside & out! ❤️ It was always so nice to see you at Mass, and at all the wonderful pro life events! You were truly a gift to all the moms & babies at Showers on Wheels!!👶🏻 God Bless you – you will be missed!!!🌟🌟🌟

She was beautiful inside and out! 🥰Truly blessed to have had her in our lives! 😇 This amazing soul was a grandma to 7…. Anthony 1988, Janessa 1990, Bernadette, Rodrigo, Jacob, Otis 2018 and Philomena 2019. As well as, 5 great grandchildren Elizabeth 2005, Alfons 2006, Alicia 2011, Victoria 2013 and Anthony Jr. 2015! We love you always and forever! 💕 Fly high Devonne, fly high! 😇

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her & may her soul & all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

How she will be missed! Devonne, along with Heather, were charter members of my Mom and Me Prayer Group in the early 2000s. Our families were always intersecting no matter where we moved. They’d be at St Stephens or Presentation when we’d there too! This was always a joy for me. Devonne towered over all of us. Not just by her gorgeous 6ft stature. Devonne accomplished more on the spiritual plane than we will ever know. And she was all about pro life. My prayer is for all those whom she loved. As Devonne has led the way in beating a path to God’s door, I pray she will not loose one soul for whom she has ever prayed. I know The Blessed Virgin is Humanity’s one boast and Devonne is in Her cortège.

Dear Devonne, you are resting with God now and enjoying the fruits of all of your pro-life labor. Most likely dancing with all those souls you prayed for and helped during this life. What a great reward you must have received! Please say “Hi” to Fr. Lee for me. 🙂 You and your sunny disposition will be greatly missed!

Dearest Devonne,
You were on my mind shortly before you left. I so regret losing touch with you. You lived a dream I had to abandon– with all your courage and energy. I add my prayers and hopes that we will meet again.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.

Mary Elizabeth Clark Frye 1932

I remember Devon so much. She was a source of inspiration to me. Especially her humility and understanding. I want her know hat the time she spend with us hanging around the fireworks booth. We love you!

Tom Grant, Joanne, and Zavannah Grant

Dear Bill, Heather and family, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Bill your wife, Heather your mother – such a wonderful loving person one rarely meets! And what a beautiful singing voice she has – Dear Lord God let her be singing and praising you in Heaven even now! And please grant abundant consolation to all of Devonne’s family members and all of her other loved ones during this time of grieving her loss. In the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen

Though I live in Texas now, I feel bereft to learn she has left the earth, yet beyond joyful to hope she is already in Heaven with our Lord. Still, I miss knowing I won’t see her here on earth again. Much Love to you all, Jan

A graceful loving and devoted soul who was there for anyone in need. She ALWAYS had my back. My son Anthony was her 1st grandchild – she guided me and saw me through pregnancy at age 15 and loved me as her own. I am so blessed to have had her in my life and cannot wait until I see her again in paradise. We all have the BEST angel looking over us now – I love you and will miss being able to talk to you and touch you but I am at peace as I know you are too now…..

You are a kind soul, a thoughtful person, always willing to help others and we will all remember you for those wonderful attributes.
We miss you and you will always be in our ❤️.

May the angels lead Devonne into Paradise. May the martyrs come to welcome her. And take her to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem. May she have eternal rest.
Devonne was a stellar witness in Sacramento’s pro life community, in the Catholic community and we all will miss her loving presence in our lives.

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