September 19, 1927 to November 8, 2019
Beloved family mourns the loss of cherished mother and grandmother Frances Oden Werly at the age of 92. Born in Bronxville New York, she spent her youth in Scarsdale NY and then Chappaqua NY attending Horace Greeley High School and then became a graduate of La Salle Junior College. She met her husband to be Glenn L Werly Jr at Horace Greeley after an incident with a stolen hat taken by him off her head. She married Glenn while he was attending Amherst College. Fran was an accomplished actress in her youth. One notable performance was as the lead Cleopatra at the Shakespearean Library in 1949 which was performed in front of then President Harry Truman.
After Amherst College, Fran and Glenn went to Boston while Glenn attended Harvard University’s Business school. Their first child, Deborah was born during this time in Boston. After Harvard she lived in Westchester County NY where, 13 years later, the next child, Margaret, was born. They moved to North Canton CT for a job and then London England. After a divorce and a few years back in Connecticut she moved to Maine to help with newborn twin grandchildren. She lived in Scarborough, ME and then spent the last years of her life at the Cedars in Portland.
Frances was an accomplished volunteer. Early in her marriage while living in Westchester County, she volunteered for the Westchester Children’s Association and Junior League of Mt. Kisco. While in Connecticut she volunteered for the Child and Family Services, Wadsworth Museum and UConn John Demsey Hospital. She was always filling her time in a worthwhile way. She attended all her older daughter’s dance performances (who danced professionally as well), traveled the US to follow her younger daughter at horseshows and still found time to give back to her community.
Frances is survived by her 2 daughters, Deborah Ruth Werly Steffen and Margaret Frances Werly Robinson. As well as grandchildren Daniel Antone, Luke Antone, Winslow Robinson, Caleb Robinson and Emma Robinson.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cedars in Portland ME. The family will hold a celebration of life in the summer of 2020.
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