Fran and Jim Williams hold the cake that their friend Mary Fallon sent them for their 50th wedding anniversary. Fallon, who passed away in March, ordered the cake in December 2020 and scheduled delivery to celebrate Williams’ anniversary on May 8th. (Courtesy Fran Williams)
BY ALISSA SKELTON The Virginian pilot
When Mary Fallon was on her deathbed a few weeks ago, she made sure she ordered a cake.
Fallon understood that if it were handed over to her friend Fran Williams, who was celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband Jim on Saturday, she would not live to see it again. But Fallon was determined to make the couple feel special, said their daughter Mary Ellen Chandler.
“She would sleep 23 hours,” said Chandler. “When she wakes up, she says, ‘You have to make sure Fran’s cake gets there. ‘”
Baker Michelle Schneider said she has never received such a thoughtful request, especially from someone who takes pain medication and is in hospice care.
“It was the most special cake I’ve made in a long time,” said Schneider.
Fallon and Williams bonded shortly after meeting at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Chesapeake years ago. They were the kind of friends who would treat each other for lunch during their birthday weeks.
Williams said Fallon was pretty much the character and loved making people laugh. Fallon, who volunteered in her church pantry, wore costumes every holiday – she had a closet full of them.
When Fallon moved into an assisted living facility about three years ago, she kept trying to lift people’s spirits with her vacation wardrobe. At Easter she dressed as a rabbit and distributed sweets to the residents.