Pittstown- Mary Frances “Fran” (Cardany) Breen, 97, a resident of Pittstown since 1948, died peacefully, Sunday, January 14, 2018, at the Diamond Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lansingburgh following a short illness
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Born in Troy, July 28, 1920, Fran was the daughter of the late Alfred and Marie Antoinette (Duchineau) Cardany and for over 65 years the wife of the late John “Tommy” Breen, who predeceased her.
Fran attended schools in Troy’s East Side and graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1938.
After her marrying Tom in 1939 and a move to Pittstown in 1948, Fran was employed as the Administrative Assistant at the former St. George Roman Catholic Church in Pittstown. For 62 years “Father Fran,” as she was affectionately known, served the faith community and a number of pastors of St. George in every church task imaginable. She assisted in the purification of communion ware, served as a Lector, Deacon, Lay Leader, Pastoral Council member, represented the church at Deanery meetings, and so much more. She retired on May 31, 2009.
Additionally, in 1973 Fran, along with several others, helped to organize and establish the Pittstown Volunteer Emergency Corps (P.V.E.C.). She was a Charter/Life Member and E.M.T. She led two squads every Monday and Tuesday for 16 years and responded to 675 calls as a riding member. She was a past vice president, assisted the Corps Bingo program for 27 years, helped as “the unofficial social director,” and was still active until retiring at the age of 93.
After the merger of St. George Church, Fran continued to commune at Our Lady of Victory Church in Sycaway. In her quiet time, she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, working in her garden, and “caring for old folks.”
She is survived by her four sons and daughters-in-law, Tommy and Nancy Breen of Boyntonville, Gary “Scout” and Barbara Breen of Brunswick, David and Sandra Breen of Arlington, TX, and Danny and Mary Breen of Halfmoon, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by two brothers, Alfred Cardany Jr. and Donald Cardany.
A Mass of Christian Resurrection for Fran will be celebrated by Fr. Randall Patterson on Thursday, January 18, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Victory Church in Sycaway. Burial will follow in St. Jean Baptiste Cemetery in Troy. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, January 17th, from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the Howard B. Tate &Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 NY Route 7, located in Raymertown.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to Pittstown Volunteer Emergency Corps., 60 Parker School Road, Johnsonville, NY 12094, in memory of Fran Breen.
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Born in Troy, July 28, 1920, Fran was the daughter of the late Alfred and Marie Antoinette (Duchineau) Cardany and for over 65 years the wife of the late John “Tommy” Breen, who predeceased her.
Fran attended schools in Troy’s East Side and graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1938.
After her marrying Tom in 1939 and a move to Pittstown in 1948, Fran was employed as the Administrative Assistant at the former St. George Roman Catholic Church in Pittstown. For 62 years “Father Fran,” as she was affectionately known, served the faith community and a number of pastors of St. George in every church task imaginable. She assisted in the purification of communion ware, served as a Lector, Deacon, Lay Leader, Pastoral Council member, represented the church at Deanery meetings, and so much more. She retired on May 31, 2009.
Additionally, in 1973 Fran, along with several others, helped to organize and establish the Pittstown Volunteer Emergency Corps (P.V.E.C.). She was a Charter/Life Member and E.M.T. She led two squads every Monday and Tuesday for 16 years and responded to 675 calls as a riding member. She was a past vice president, assisted the Corps Bingo program for 27 years, helped as “the unofficial social director,” and was still active until retiring at the age of 93.
After the merger of St. George Church, Fran continued to commune at Our Lady of Victory Church in Sycaway. In her quiet time, she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, working in her garden, and “caring for old folks.”
She is survived by her four sons and daughters-in-law, Tommy and Nancy Breen of Boyntonville, Gary “Scout” and Barbara Breen of Brunswick, David and Sandra Breen of Arlington, TX, and Danny and Mary Breen of Halfmoon, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by two brothers, Alfred Cardany Jr. and Donald Cardany.
A Mass of Christian Resurrection for Fran will be celebrated by Fr. Randall Patterson on Thursday, January 18, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Victory Church in Sycaway. Burial will follow in St. Jean Baptiste Cemetery in Troy. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, January 17th, from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the Howard B. Tate &Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 NY Route 7, located in Raymertown.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to Pittstown Volunteer Emergency Corps., 60 Parker School Road, Johnsonville, NY 12094, in memory of Fran Breen.