Marlborough – Frances Wells Denzel, 88 of Marlborough, died on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.
Fran was born on May 27, 1934, in Boston, MA, to the late Francis and Norma (Conway) Wells Johnson. Fran attended the Immaculate Conception School, St Michael’s Academy, and graduated from Emmanuel College in 1956 earning her Bachelor’s Degree in English.
Fran was a devoted educator for decades having taught English at Mary Immaculate High School at Madonna Hall, Marlborough Middle School, and Hudson High School.
Fran was an avid reader. In retirement she shared her passion for reading with children at the Kane Elementary School and the Jaworek Elementary School as a volunteer reader.
Fran’s passion for reading extended to her friends at New Horizons Assisted Living where she started their first book club. Fran was also in two other book clubs with her friends from Hudson High School and Emmanuel College.
Fran was very active at New Horizons attending daily Mass, news chat, knitting, poetry readings, musical performances, movies, fitness, and volunteering on various committees. Fran loved spending time with her family and decades of summer fun in Rye, NH.Fran is survived by her two sons, Joseph Denzel of Marlborough, William Denzel and his wife Christie of Worcester, her daughter, Carolyn Banach and her husband Albert of Marlborough, six granddaughters, Shannan, Heather, Kristina, Jaclyn, Christine and Victoria, six great-grandchildren, her brother Walter Wells, stepbrother Jay Johnson, and her niece Stephanie Wells Scerra.
Fran was predeceased by her husband of 33 years J. Jordan Denzel in 1990, her son Frank Denzel in 1996 and her stepsister, Judy Grasso in 2020.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at 11:00am at the Immaculate Conception Church, 11 Prospect St., Marlborough, MA. Burial will follow in the family lot at in Immaculate Conception Cemetery.
Calling hours will be held prior to the Mass from 9:00-10:45am in the Short & Rowe Funeral Home, 95 West Main St., Marlborough, MA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Frances’s name to the Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton.
