Frances Chinn Obituary

Frances Lynn Chinn
Resident of San Mateo
Mar. 8, 1932 – Aug. 20, 2025
Frances Lynn Chinn passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 20, at her care-home in San Mateo.She was well loved by all who knew her for her caring, fun, and loving spirit.
Frances was born in Shiqi, China and immigrated to San Francisco at age six. She moved with her family to San Mateo at age 15 where she fell in love with her San Mateo High School sweetheart, Walter, whom she happily married in 1953 at age 21.
San Mateo is where they decided to lay down their roots, creating a beautiful family and life together raising three children.
Frances was a dedicated wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend to many.
She worked as an administrative secretary to several V.P.'s at the Del Monte Corporate offices in San Francisco for 16 years, until retiring in 1990. Among her favorite passions were playing mah-jong with friends and family, entertaining in her home, attending an array of social events, playing the piano, ballroom dancing with Walter and also traveling the world together, and spending as much time with her children and grandchildren as possible. Frances was an active member of the Square and Circle Club (a women's auxillary club) and acting president in 1981-1982, and a member of the San Francisco Chinese Historical Society of America.
Frances is survived by her husband Walter (of 72 years), two daughters Debi Shealy (Phil), and Sherryl Frediani (Jeff), daughter-in-law Debbie Chinn (son Louis, deceased in June 2021, age 63), seven grandchildren, Christopher Chinn (Cathee), Jennifer Chinn, Erika Shealy, Kristin Shealy, Devin Shealy, Alyssa Frediani, Deanna (Frediani) Cuttell (Dave), and one great-grandson Logan Walter Cuttell (15 months old). She is also survived by three siblings, Hanford Quock, Sonny Quock, and Lillian Leong. She was the third oldest of nine children.
Her warmth and generosity touched the lives of everyone she met, a home-cooked meal, or the laughter and stories she shared at family gatherings. Her enduring friendships, some spanning decades, were cherished deeply, and she remained an unwavering source of support and encouragement to friends old and new. She will be dearly missed, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, optimism, and devotion that will continue to inspire all who knew her.
The family will hold a small private service in a few weeks where she will be buried at Olivet Cemetery in Colma. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Frances Chinn can be made to: Square and Circle Club, Inc. (squareandcircleclub.org) Or San Francisco Chinese Historical Society of America (chsa.org)