Alferman, Frances Ann (nee Siebert)

Frances Ann Alferman (nee Siebert), born March 22, 1949, lost her brave and courageous battle with cancer on April 12, 2025.

Fran was the beloved spouse of James, the mother of James (Tiffanie), Becky, David, and Sarah Boudreau (Ray); the grandmother of Clayton (Molly), Lauren, Christian, Anastasia, Isabelle, Blake and Bryce; the great grandmother of Autumn; the sister of Peter, Mary, Mark, Ann, Gerilyn, Beth, Russell, Teresa, Susan and Bill. The sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and niece to many. She was preceded in death of her parents, Russell and Jean Siebert and brother Peter.

Fran lived a life that can be described by her husband as “the best woman a man ever had” and by her children as “the very best mother in the world”.  Her laughter filled every gathering attended and she was born with the most beautiful large smile that would light up any room.

Fran was born and raised in Fenton, Missouri and was the eldest sister of eleven children. She attended Bishop DuBourg High School, then Meramec Community College, and met her husband Jim, the love of her life, shortly after.  They had their first date on New Year’s Eve, 1967 and were married that October, defining “love at first sight”.

Firstborn son Jim was born the following year and shortly after the love of her life was drafted into the US Army and assigned to Germany, with Fran and son joining him, generating tales of driving a VW Beetle exploring Germany, France, and Switzerland.  The family moved back to Missouri upon Jim’s honorable discharge and were soon blessed with fraternal twins, Becky and David. Tackling every unique challenge of having twins head on, Fran quickly became the world’s best mother.

A work relocation to Idaho for two years had Fran cooking, crafting, and home keeping, where she excelled at making everyone feel special becoming a part of her new community with her husband and three young ones.

Life for the family changed again returning to St. Louis in 1979 and building a house they continued to reside in and where Fran found peace in her final days.   Youngest daughter Sarah was born that year and welcomed into the home Fran filled with love, laughter, and all the happiness she could share, spreading it wherever she went through her wide smile and uplifting spirit.

Fran was always on the go from school and work activities to fitness exercises such as roller blading, workout classes, biking, and swing dancing.  Fran and Jim went out dancing regularly over the years and her energy flowed deeply into everything she attempted and thrived at pursuing in life.  She was always involved despite having a full-time career once the children were older.  Often at parties you could hear her laugher lift and fill the room with her warm and generous glee.  She was always upbeat and up for every challenge in life or business. Nothing made her flinch or slowed her down. Even with her 2019 cancer diagnosis she continued to shower her love on her family and friends and displayed a tower of strength, hope, and perseverance by her example.  She would not complain about her condition and was a willing participant in cancer research trials.

Fran was an accomplished businesswoman as co-owner of Siebert Agency, Ltd., founded by her father, until her retirement in 2016. She served her insurance clients with the utmost professionalism and they looked upon her more like a trusted friend.

Fran was a meticulous gardener and was in full glory when her flowers and plants were in full bloom. Neighbors on their walks always commented on the beauty of what she had created, sometimes referred to as “Botanical Garden West”. Among many vacation spots, Fran always had a favorite in Sanibel Island, Florida, to which her voluminous collection of seashells and pictures of lighthouses can attest. Times there were among the best of her life.

Fran’s legacy and life’s lessons she gave to us are fairly simple: to be loving to all, to enjoy this Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong’s song of the same was her favorite), to be grateful for each day given, to give more than you receive, and lastly to leave this world a better place because of how you lived in it.

We love you, Fran, just as you have loved us. Rest in eternal peace.

Visitation at Kutis Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois Rd. 63123 on Monday,  April 21 from 4-8pm. And the at St. Peter’s Catholic Church 243 W. Argonne Dr. 63122 on Tuesday, April 22 from 9 am until Funeral Mass time at 10 am. Interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery will be held in private.

The Alferman family is extremely grateful to Dr. Andrea Hagemann, MD of Washington University Physicians for the superb care afforded Fran over six years and to BJC Hospice for their outstanding comfort and care provided during in home hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.