NORWICH – Frances M. Cummings, 90, of Norwich, passed away Sunday morning, Aug. 17, 2008 in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Born in New Brunswick, Canada, on March 20, 1918, Frances was the daughter of Arnold and Ethel (Holder) Heans. She went to school in Canada, and after school she decided to teach and taught children in a one-room school house. On June 12, 1936, she married John J. Cummings in Canada. Shortly after being married, they moved to Stamford, Conn. Frances and John moved to Nichols in the 1950s where they operated a farm, and in 1961 they moved to Rockland County. They moved to Norwich in 1970, making their home at Plymouth Reservoir. Frances worked as a bus driver for the Norwich City School System for 10 years. In 1973 she became a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. She also enjoyed working at the Office of the Aging. She helped with the 60-Plus meals, did knitting, crocheting and baking. An animal lover at heart, she once raised Chihuahuas. She also loved spending time with her family and making special interest dolls for her daughters and grandchildren.
Frances is survived by her children: Patricia Babbidge, Margaret Pierce and husband Earl, Bonnie Farischon and Ronald, Kevin and his wife Inez of North Carolina, Kathy Cummings Christophersen of Nyack and James and his wife Shirley of Norwich. She also had 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was predeceased by her husband, John, on may 11, 1993, and her sister, Olive Anderson of Canada, on May 21, 2005.
Memorial services for Frances will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeremy Stopford of Norwich will officiate. There will be no calling hours.