Frances Brodilova
1904-1998

	Husband: Calvin D. McOmber, Jr.
	Children: George B. McOmber Frances M. McOmber Calvin B. McOmber Charles B. McOmber Ruth McOmber
	Father: Frantisek A. Brodil Mother: Frantiska Vesela Show Pedigree

Frances Brodil (Frantiska Brodilova) was born 22 December 1904, a Christmas gift to Frantisek Brodil and Frantiska Vesela Brodilova. Her parents were both Czech, but Frances was born in Vienna, Austria where they resided at that time. She remembers standing in lines for a small loaf of bread and a bowl of soup following World War I. She remembers how the rich people of the city traded diamond rings with the farmers for food. Her mother had fine linen which she bartered for food.

Before the war her mother was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and after the war the family relocated back to their home in Prague, which was now in the newly formed country of Czechoslovakia. After high school, Frances attended business college in Prague, where she lived with her mother and only sister, Jane. The two sisters became professional translators, and worked long hours translating the Book of Mormon from German into Czech. That translation is still used today, after an attempt to update it proved less accurate.

In the autumn of 1932 Frances met a missionary named Calvin Delos McOmber, Jr., but he was soon transferred to a different city. Near the end of his three year mission he was transferred to Prague, where she got to know him better. Missionaries were not allowed to become at all familiar with female members and after his mission she received only a casual and polite greeting from him. Then in the fall of 1936, she received her next letter from him, which was a proposal of marriage! She was stunned, but then realized that she truly loved him. She accepted and arrived in Pocatello, Idaho on 25 April 1937. They were married on 30 April 1937 in the Salt Lake Temple by Elder John A. Widtsoe. He had been the European Mission President, and they had their wedding breakfast in his home.

Frances and Calvin were happily married throughout their lives, but Frances did have to make some major adjustments. Frances had been raised in Vienna and Prague, two major culture capitals of Europe, and now needed to adjust to life on an Idaho dairy farm. But their love grew stronger every day and they became a model married couple in the community.

They had five children: George, Frances, Calvin, Charles, and Ruth. Frances died of pnemonia just before her first birthday. Charles was born with brain damage inflicted by the forceps which were used at that time in childbirth. He lived with them until age twelve, but only achieved a mental age about one, so he couldn't speak. He was a real challenge for them, but taught the entire family unconditional love. At that time he was transferred to a state institution and is doing well today. The other three children grew to maturity and have had wonderful lives and families.

Frances outlived her husband by 18 years, spending most of her last twelve years with her daughter Ruth's family in Orem, Utah. She passed away on 1 April, 1998, having lived through almost all of the Twentieth Century. She was an inspiration to all, and thought by many to be one of the kindest and most loving women they had ever met. She was also known as the great peacemaker of the family.