Frances (Goodwin) Honan, 90, a 50-year resident of Concord, died peacefully in The Gardens at Newbury Court in Concord on Thursday, April 6, 2023. She was the beloved wife of the late Stephen F. Honan, who passed away in 2019.
She was born on October 25, 1932, the daughter of the late William and Helen (Williams) Goodwin. Growing up in Providence, Rhode Island, she attended St. Xavier Academy and Katharine Gibbs School. She was fortunate to meet her future husband at the age of 15, which developed into a love-story spanning nearly seven decades.
After settling in Concord in 1972, Fran became an active and devoted member of a community she loved wholeheartedly. Her involvement with the Newcomers’ Club inspired her to form the Pineapple Corps, a local social group. She was past President of the Concord Milldames, a former employee of the Concord Library’s Fowler Branch, and a proud volunteer for Emerson Hospital, where she logged thousands of service hours over two decades. She and Steve were longtime, faithful parishioners at Trinitarian Congregational Church. Fran was also a former Executive Assistant at General Radio and Digital Equipment Corporation.
Fran took great pride and delight in her family. She nurtured a special bond with each of the 11 grandchildren who affectionately knew her as Grandma. She enjoyed frequent summer trips with family to Block Island, as well as entertaining and hosting relatives and friends over the years. She never missed an opportunity to find joy in every holiday, family celebration and milestone. She will also be remembered by her values, mantras and motivational words, which she thoughtfully imparted and instilled. Fran took interest in scrapbooking and many of her personalized books have become gifts to family members.
Fran leaves behind her devoted children, Kathleen Bird and her husband Samuel of Concord, retired Navy Capt. Stephen Honan and his wife Nancy (Verrill) of Fairfax, Virginia, Carolyn Benjamin and her husband Robert of Block Island, Rhode Island and David Honan and his wife Christine (Canning) of Concord, her 11 grandchildren: Sarah Bird and her husband Nicholas Neely, Jane Bird, Jessica Honan, Lt. Cmdr. Laura Riebel and her husband Lt. Cmdr. Mark Riebel, retired Lt. Cmdr Stephen Honan and his wife Rebecca Peters, Anne Benjamin and her wife Sara Mueller, Rev. Mia Kano and her husband Aaron Kano, Ellen Benjamin and her husband Lawrence Benjamin, Kayleen Honan, Elanna Honan and Riley Honan, ten great grandchildren, Esme and Eugene Neely, Brendan, Connor and Evan Riebel, Charles, Molly and Finley Benjamin and August and Fiona Kano, along with many in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to gather for a memorial service in celebration of Fran’s life at Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord Center on Saturday, May 13 at 11:30 a.m., with a reception following. Private burial will be held at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord, MA 01742 (www.triconchurch.org).
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to send a condolence in Fran’s online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
