Frances Pearling: Lasting Generosity

A generous act today can reverberate through many tomorrows. Frances Pearling acted on this truth with her bequest to Adventist Health Portland Foundation. 

Fran’s journey with Adventist Health Portland began in the late 1990s, when her husband, Chuck, was diagnosed with colon cancer. For many months, he received care at Adventist Health Portland Cancer Center. When his health worsened, Fran and Chuck turned to Adventist Health Portland’s hospice team, who cared for Chuck until his passing in 1999. Fran never forgot the compassion and support they received during that challenging period. 

Moved by the compassionate care they received, Fran decided that she would continue to give back by including Adventist Health Portland Foundation in her will. “It makes me feel good to do something nice for somebody,” Fran shared with one of our associates. Through this thoughtful bequest, Fran chose to make a lasting difference in her community — a gift that will endure far beyond her lifetime. 

Fran lived a long life, finding joy in simple pleasures like watching birds flit around her backyard, fostering cats and taking leisurely strolls through the neighborhood. She was tenacious and resolute, standing up for herself with strength and conviction, guided by her unwavering sense of right and wrong. Her son, Jerry, fondly recalls, “I knew my mom for over 60 years. She was smart and quick-witted.” 

Today, Fran’s legacy lives on through her generous bequest, which continues to support cancer patients and provides equipment needed to care for them. Thanks to Fran’s charitable donation, many more cancer patients will receive high-quality care, offering them the gift of more tomorrows. Fran has shown us that even in times of sadness and uncertainty, generosity endures. 

Thank you, Fran, for your legacy of kindness and generosity. We will remember you fondly.