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Frances ‘Fran’ Deegan
On March 6, 2019, we lost an earthly angel and gained a heavenly one.
Frances “Fran” Deegan passed away in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Fran was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Edward and Frances Gribbin. Fran graduated from St. Savior’s High School in Brooklyn. After graduation, Frances had to forgo college to work and help support her widowed mother and grandmother.
Frances worked in accounting positions for several companies in both Brooklyn and Manhattan. When Frances married John O’Connor, they relocated to Flushing, N.Y., where she was an active parishioner at St. Kevin Church. After 14 years of marriage, Fran was suddenly widowed and took in foster babies from the New York Foundling Hospital, in Manhattan. Over the course of five years, Frances cared for and loved a total of 13 infants, sometimes two or three at a time. Frances nurtured and swaddled each of those foster babies in love, as if they were her own. All through her life Fran remembered each of those children, kept their photos in albums and lovingly told stories about them. During those years, Frances also cared for her own mother and grandmother until their deaths.
Frances eventually married a widower, William “Bill” Deegan, and he and Fran continued to live in Flushing, subsequently moving to Huntington, Long Island and becoming part of the St. Patrick Parish. After 15 years in Huntington, Fran and Bill relocated to Palm City, Fla., and attended Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. As Bill’s health declined, Fran took care of him at home until seven months before his death. Together Fran and Bill enjoyed almost 49 years of marriage.
Frances was very active in St. Kevin Church in Flushing, serving as a choir member, church organist and vocal soloist for weddings. Fran possessed a beautiful operatic voice and played three musical instruments. She often performed in skits and talent shows while at St. Kevin and would be asked to sing for ceremonies at Queens Borough Hall. Fran was an expert seamstress and extremely talented in many crafts, including but not limited to, painting and crocheting.
Fran had also been a substitute teacher at St. Kevin Elementary School and served as secretary for the St. Kevin Rosary Society. Fran also served as both a president and vice president of The Mary Louis Academy Mothers Auxiliary in Jamaica Estates, N.Y. Fran loved to undertake new challenges and even became proficient on the computer. Her devotion to God was unsurpassed. She was a devout Catholic and spoke to the Lord through prayer throughout each day.
After two falls, both resulting in broken bones, Frances moved in with her daughter in Coeur d’Alene. While living in Coeur d’Alene, Frances attended St. Pius X Church.
Frances was also preceded in death by her sister, Sr. St. Colette Gribbin, CSJ, and brother, E. Paul Gribbin; step-son, Kenneth Deegan, Esq.; stepdaughter, Barbara Rauss and three grandchildren. Frances is survived by her daughter, Colette (David) Vaughn; grandchildren, Stacey Holland of Acworth, Ga., William Deegan of San Francisco, Calif., Matthew Deegan of Huntington, N.Y., and loving close family member, Judy Deegan Kahrs of Huntington.
The family expresses their gratitude to Dr. Susan Daugharty-Fowler, Dr. Doug McInnis, Travis Headley, the staff of Renaissance Assisted Living and the Hospice team of Karen Westmoreland, Deneen Davis and Ashleigh McDowell. Their expertise and gentle care of Frances eased her pain and always made her smile during the latter time of her life.
There will be a Mass in Fran’s memory at St. Pius X Church in Coeur d’Alene and interment in St. John’s Cemetery in New York.
Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.