Frances S. Cohen

Beloved wife of the late Jerome A. Cohen; cherished mother of Barbara Swerdlin (Dr. Steven), Bruce Cohen (Leslie) and Dr. Faye Cohen (Brian McCary); dear grandmother to Nicole Au (William), Alexander Swerdlin (Ammy), Jeffrey Cohen (Kimberly), Cayley Farkas (Andrew), Scott McCary and the late Candace Cohen; great-grandmother to Clifford Au, Archer Swerdlin, Raphael and Blaise Farkas and Eli Cohen; sister of the late Selma Levine (late Dr. Irv) and the late Anne Marder (late Oscar), aunt, cousin and friend to many.

Youngest of the three daughters of Frank and Celia Steinberg, Fran attended Soldan High School before graduating from Harris Teacher’s College, where she was a sister in the Omega Delta Pi sorority and went on to teach 2nd grade. She was married to Jerry for 71 years, raising three children and working with him at his store, Village Pharmacy in Ferguson. Always supportive of the Jewish community, she served as co-Vice President of The Lights Of the Jewish Special Needs, and was active in the Auxiliary for the Jewish Center for the Aged. She and Jerry were long time members of Nusach Hari B’nai Zion, attending regularly, where she had many friends. She and Jerry traveled the world and loved spending time with their friends and family which included a number of kitties. Fran loved to bake and was known for her memorable Mandel Bread.

Fran spent a lifetime finding new ways to express herself, through beautiful embroidery as a young woman to taking up painting, which culminated in a solo show of thirty-two bright paintings, a blend of figurative and abstract, in her 90s. She was an avid reader, and was extremely knowledgeable and took pleasure in watching Jeopardy regularly. She was bright and kind and a keen observer of life in general, and was always asked and ready to give insightful advice when needed. She will be deeply missed by her whole family, and friends and will not be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are preferred to Nusach Hari B’nai Zion Congregation.

A graveside service will be held Sunday, May 17 at 1pm in Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road.