Frances Bronner

Born in Vienna in 1921, she grew up in an orthodox Jewish household as one of three sisters. When Hitler invaded Vienna she was sent by relatives to Palestine as a Youth Aliya child to the Mizrachi school. After school, she lived on a kibbutz and then came to the United States in 1941.

She met and married her beloved husband, Max G. Bronner. She and her husband together with her sister and brother-in-law built Evy Footwear Co., at that time, one of the largest privately-owned womens shoe manufacturing companies in the United States with its headquarters in New York City and factories in Pennsylvania, New York State and Puerto Rico. The women managed the factories and the men focused on sales and finance. Their contributions to the success of the business were equal. She was a business executive well-before most women chose a business career.

Even though she had business success, she was a wonderful mother, raising two boys. She and her husband were also devoted Jews, active in synagogue life and supporters of many Jewish charities. She also was an accomplished bridge player.

She is survived by her sons, David Bronner and Jay Bronner and his wife Anne Bronner, grandchildren Benjamin Bronner and his wife Danielle Bronner, Samantha Bronner, Scott Bronner and his wife Allyson Bronner and Emily and her husband, Ryan Rafferty, and four great grandchildren, Myles and Rory Bronner and Madeline and Jacob Rafferty.

Services will be held graveside at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois at 3:30 pm on Thursday, May 4, 2023 . In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to Anshe Emet Synagogue of Chicago or any organization of your choice in her name.