Northborough – Frances L. Morrone entered into peaceful rest on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, after a period of decline. Fran, a proud lifelong resident of “her” Northborough, resided at Whitney Place and had just recently celebrated her 101st birthday.
Born in Worcester on November 24, 1922, Fran was a daughter to Gilbert and Cora (Willet) O’Brien. Fran was preceded in death by her parents, her husband William “Bill” R. Morrone, her daughter Denise and her sisters Ann and Alice Denise. Surviving Fran are her grandson Michael Morrone of Westborough along with her nephews Frank and Tom and her nieces Nancy, Patricia, Carolyn and Andy.
In her younger years, Fran was a licensed hairdresser who owned and operated her salon in Northborough. She also provided hair cutting and styling services for residents at Thornton’s Nursing Home which is now the site of Whitney Place. Later in life, Fran was employed as a clerk by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the Medical Claims Department and later, in the Bureau of Systems Operations Department, located on the grounds of the former Lyman School for Boys where her mother had taught cooking.
On behalf of Michael, Fran’s family would like to extend thanks to both Lori (Hackett) Bowness- her cousin Midge’s daughter, as well as to Mary Perkins- her former neighbor, for their kindness and care towards Fran. She shared a special relationship with them. Also, thank you to Jim Priest and Debra DeZutter, the Whitney Place nursing staff and to all of Fran’s caregivers at Whitney Place who were attentive to Fran in making her feel at home. To the Salmon Care Staff and Salmon Hospice Nurses, thank you for the comfort you provided to her in her final days.
Fran enjoyed a good joke and was always ready for a card game or a trip to the casino where she usually had considerable luck on the slots and was sure to call family to relay her success! She enjoyed talking of her memories of growing up with her sisters and her cousins with whom she maintained a close relationship.
A lifelong parishioner of Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Fran held true to her beliefs that one day indeed she would enter Heaven and be rejoined with those that had gone before her.
A time of visitation will be held between 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main Street, Northborough. Fran’s funeral will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment will be in Howard Street Cemetery, Northborough.
