Frances “Fran” Slusser Finnigan, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2020 after suffering a severe injury in a fall. She was nearly 77 years old and leaves behind a heart-broken family, including her husband of 55 years, three daughters and sons-in-law, seven grandchildren, two sisters, a niece, two nephews and a grandniece.

Born in Brush, Colorado, Mrs. Finnigan spent her early life on her family’s farm. She graduated from high school at 16 and moved to Denver to live with her sister Rita and her baby nephew, Mark.  On a summer night in a scene reminiscent of the movie “American Graffiti,” she met her husband Dennis, whom she married four years later. Together, they had three daughters, Patty, Stephanie and Lisa. She raised her children and worked for over 20 years in the Family Medicine department at Rose Hospital.

With her children grown and beginning to start families of their own, Mrs. Finnigan and her husband moved to Grand County, opening The Claddagh Inn, a bed and breakfast in Fraser, Colorado, which they ran for several years. Over the next 20 years, the Finnigans were innkeepers and later shopkeepers, opening Fraser Valley Photo, the Fraser Valley’s only retail photo lab and supplies shop.

Mrs. Finnigan was a devoted mother and grandmother. Her grandchildren visited her frequently from Boulder and Denver; two live in Tabernash. They all loved the outdoors and often skied at Winter Park, returning to the Finnigan’s home for warm winter meals and grandmotherly affection.

The family, in announcing Mrs. Finnigan’s passing, said “There is peace in knowing that Fran is in Paradise, dancing the “Irish jig” and watching down on her loved ones with her smiling Irish eyes,” and asked, “Please keep Fran’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Funeral services were held on September 12th at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Denver.

The family has also created a Go Fund Me page (https://rb.gy/hnbdpf) for donations in lieu of flowers. Donations will support Grand County, Colorado Emergency Medical Services. Donations may also be made in her memory to the American Diabetes Association and www.diabetes.org/donate.

They also said, when the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, they are planning a Celebration of Life reception in Grand County.