[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 202 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING FRAN DUVALL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2023

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Fran Duvall, who joined 
my office when I first came to Congress. Fran had worked for my 
predecessor Sidney R. Yates, who recommended that I hire Fran because 
of her many talents and her ability to work as a team member.
  Fran was kind, sweet, patient, competent and diligent in setting up 
our operations. She set an early example for my young staff on how to 
be an effective staffer on Capitol Hill. She was integral in my 
seamless transition to the House of Representatives and I, like my 
staff, relied on her guidance. But more importantly, she was 
progressive, welcoming, and inclusive before that was fashionable. Fran 
represented the very best of this lnstitution.
  I send my deepest condolences to her family and gratitude for sharing 
her with Team Schakowsky and the House of Representatives. I include in 
the Record the following obituary, published in the December 5th 
Washington Post, describing her life of achievement.

                              Fran Duvall

                     (1 January 1935--14 May 2022)

       The family of Frances Eloise Duvall honors her memory 
     during this holiday season.
       Ms. Duvall was born 1 January 1935 at home in Landover, 
     Maryland and died 14 May 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. She was 
     the ninth and last child of Anna Louise (nee Bennett) and 
     George Paul Duvall and grew up in the nation's capital. After 
     graduating from Immaculate Conception Academy in 1952, Ms. 
     Duvall worked as a typist for the Navy Department, as a 
     secretary with the University of Maryland Engineering 
     Department and later with the Civil Service Commission.
       Ms. Duvall met Keith Daggy in the early 1950s while both 
     were members of the Bladensburg Skate Club. They were married 
     in 1956 and, a year later, moved to Waynesboro, VA. There 
     they had three children, Teresa, Roger, and Mary Helen, who 
     did not survive a premature birth. Ms. Duvall and Mr. Daggy 
     divorced in 1976, at which time Ms. Duvall began working 
     full-time at the University of Virginia while studying at 
     Mary Baldwin College (now University) in Staunton, earning 
     her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management in 1981.
       Ms. Duvall then moved back to Washington, DC, where she 
     worked as the office manager for Representative Sidney R. 
     Yates, IL, and his successor, Jan Schakowsky, until Ms. 
     Duvall's retirement in 2001.
       The final chapter of Ms. Duvall's life was written at 
     Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield, VA, where 
     she lived from 2003 until her death. She was deeply involved 
     in various aspects of the community, particularly the 
     Greenspring Players, the theatre troupe at the retirement 
     village. Ms. Duvall served in many capacities: chair, co-
     chair, director, producer, prompter, computer support, 
     publicity, props and cast parties, as well as upgrading and 
     clarifying policies and procedures for the Players. Ms. 
     Duvall also created and maintained a scholarship program, 
     awarding scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students 
     majoring in all aspects of theatre.
       Additionally, Ms. Duvall hosted various shows on the 
     Village's internal television station and assisted in 
     producing the station's programs on presidential libraries. 
     She also created sign language classes at the Village.
       Ms. Duvall was a life-long Democrat and vigorously defended 
     equal rights. She volunteered on Election Day to ensure that 
     residents could cast their vote.
       After attending many memorial services to honor friends who 
     had passed, Ms. Duvall decided, in January 2020, to celebrate 
     her 85th birthday with beautiful music performed by her 
     children and grandchildren and amusing, heartfelt anecdotes 
     from her friends and loved ones. Ms. Duvall leaves behind her 
     daughter, Teresa, and granddaughter Zoe, as well as her son, 
     Roger, his wife Kimberlea, and their children, Maximilian and 
     Celia.

                          ____________________