Jack and Fran Munday

Jack is a bereaved step-parent who knew Marlys and who had her permission to marry her mother, Fran, and take care of her forever. In addition to the joint writing with Fran of Surviving The Death of a Child (Westminster/John Knox, 1995) and their column, Lets Talk About Grief, he has written a memoir, The Last Thing On Earth. Jack has lived with memories of Marlys for more years than she lived on earth, and has adopted her in his heart.

Fran is a bereaved parent whose daughter, MARLYS Ann was murdered in their home in 1979. Fran has found healing through helping others. Fran had theological/counseling training in 1986. She has had leadership roles in The Compassionate Friends chapters since 1983 and she has presented workshops at The Compassionate Friends Regional and National Conferences, Parents of Murdered Children National Conference, World Bereavement Conference and In Loving Memory Conferences. Fran was the Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Coordinator for The Compassionate Friends. With her husband John Munday, Fran wrote Surviving The Death of a Child, released in 1995 by Westminster/John Knox Press.

Fran and Jack write a weekly column in their local newspaper in Minnesota, where they now live. Fran’s new book, Butterflies, Angels and Roses will be published in 2003 by The Marlys Ann Wohlenhaus Foundation, Inc.