Passionate special needs advocate owned insurance company
Published in the March 1, 2017 edition
LYNNFIELD — Frances Roderick Soderberg, loving wife of Douglas Gunner Soderberg, mother of Craig, Kathryn, and Karen and grandmother of Josiah Soderberg, passed away peacefully on February 27, 2017.
Frances Evelyn was born in Caribou, Maine, on December 2, 1935 and was raised in northern Maine, the potato farming capital in that era. She had the distinction of picking 89 barrels of potatoes in one day!
She attended the University of Maine where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics.
Her professional career started as a researcher at Arthur D. Little. Her next venture was as a co-founder of Soderberg Insurance Services which she founded with Douglas Soderberg. Over the next 50 years she worked diligently with Douglas to build the agency to a well-respected organization in the community.
Her community involvement was wide spread and diverse. She was actively involved in Lynnfield politics, a leader in Bluebird and Campfire Girls and her most passionate contribution was to the special needs community. She was instrumental in raising awareness and involvement of special needs individuals into the community. Frances championed the North Shore Special Needs Fundraiser for 26 consecutive years.
In addition to her professional life and the community support, she had the time to indulge in her favorite sport of tennis winning the Lynnfield mixed doubles championship with Douglas. She won the Ipswich Country Club championship with her daughter Kathryn.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Monday from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be private.
