Frances Anne Jewell

Family Came First

For School

Paraprofessional

Frances Anne Jewell died on April 23 at Danbury Hospital after a determined battle against cancer. She was predeceased by her husband of 41 years, Robert G. Jewell.

Mrs Jewell is survived by her three sons and their families, Michael, his wife, Eileen and their children, Matthew, Michael, and Haley, of Newtown; Robert, his wife, Brenda, and their sons, Robert, Connor, and Hunter, of Ridgefield; and Scott, his wife, Lisa, and their children, Alana and Gavin, of Middlebury.

She was born and raised in Parkchester in the Bronx, N.Y.. She spent her summers in Long Beach, N.Y., many in the home that she and her family still own today. She attended school at Saint Helena’s in the Bronx, graduating from its high school in 1961. She met her husband, Robert, who attended Mount Saint Michael’s, at a high school dance at the Morris Yacht Club on City Island. They were married in 1964.

After high school, Mrs Jewell worked as a secretary for Traveler’s Insurance in New York City until she resigned to become a full-time wife and mother. The Jewells moved from Parkchester to Ridgefield in the fall of 1969 to raise their sons Robert and Michael. Scott, was born in Danbury Hospital in 1971.

Mrs Jewell was very involved in her children’s lives, hosting play groups and volunteering for everything from Cub Scout Den Mother and catechism teacher to sewing costumes and helping with school plays.

In the mid 1970s, she returned to work on a part-time basis as a secretary in the office of Principal Robert MacDonald at Farmingville School and, as her children got older, she worked as an aide and then a paraprofessional until her health forced her to take leave less than a month before she died.

In addition to Farmingville School, Mrs Jewell worked first at Scotland School, then Ridgebury, Branchville and, finally, Barlow Mountain. She loved helping children and got a huge kick out of the fact that she worked in the same grade as her oldest grandson, Robbie.

Mrs Jewell always put family first. No matter how hectic the day would get, there would always be time for everyone to sit down to a family meal at dinnertime. In addition to her family and friends, Mrs Jewell enjoyed nothing more than a day on the beach at Great Pond in Ridgefield or in the West End of Long Beach. She will be greatly missed, but her spirit will be walking hand-in-hand with that of her husband Bob on Long Beach Boardwalk forever.

Funeral services were held April 27 at St Mary’s Church, Ridgefield.

Memorial donations may be made to Healing Hearts, a Center for Grieving Children and Families, 73 Stadley Rough Road, Danbury CT 06810.

The Newtown Bee        April 28, 2006