Frances Weiss, 103 years young, currently of Wilmington, NC passed away May 15, 2018. She was born in Newark, NJ and attended Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from her children at age 40, her Master’s Degree in Life Studies at age 80 from her 3 grandchildren and a Doctorate in Living Well at age 100 from her Great Grandchildren.
Fran was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney Weiss, in 2002. Sid and Fran were married for 59 years and lived in both West Orange, NJ and Boca-Delray, Delray Beach, FL. Fran was also predeceased by her parents, Max and Celia Brown Simon and her brother Albert Simon of Livingston, NJ and Delray Beach, FL.
Fran is survived by; her daughter, Lyne and husband, Steve Glaser and her son, Barry Weiss and wife, Pam (all of Wilmington, NC) as well as 3 grandchildren; Lisa Goodkin and husband Alan (Briarcliff Manor, NY), Melanie Harris and husband Rob Fraiman (NYC & Mt. Kisco, NY), Brian Trachtenberg (Houston, TX) and 2 step-grandies; Adam and wife Sonda (Charlotte, NC), Stacie and husband Louis (Portland, OR). Fran enjoyed every minute spent with her family which also included her 5 great grandchildren; Julia, Jack, Miles, Clara and Ruby and 5 step-greats; Samson, Alexander, Benjamin, Zoe and Tova.
Fran Weiss was known far and wide for her zest for life, her love of family and her commitment to Judaism. Her extended family, aunts/uncles/cousins, were a tight knit group to the end. She embraced her husband’s family of 3 brothers and 1 sister as though they were her own.
Fran had a lengthy career in the retail industry, ending with 25 years at Saks Fifth Avenue in Milburn, NJ. She was a fashionista from day 1 and, as with all she did, she loved her work.
Active in organizations such as ORT, the world’s largest Jewish Education and Vocational Training organization and Hadassah where she was the first President of the Hillside, NJ branch, she continued her philanthropic work until age 91. Her generosity is just one of the many legacies she handed down from generation to generation.
She was a Master bridge player, participating in tournaments throughout NJ and FL. An avid reader, swimmer, dancer and crossword aficionado, Fran had a full and joyous life. She knew how to live and live well. She had a contagious smile and a gift of making others feel like they were the only ones in the room. She developed strong relationships with her grandchildren and great-grandies, far beyond the typical role.
Probably her greatest asset was the ability to reinvent her life, over and again. She moved frequently in later years; from NJ to FL to NC and established friends and roots wherever she landed, no matter her age. Fran Weiss will be missed by the many whose lives she touched.
A funeral service will be held on May 18th, 2018 at the B’nai Israel Synagogue on 2601 Chestnut Street in Wilmington at 3PM. Rabbi Julie Kozlow will officiate. Interment will follow at the B’nai Israel Hebrew Cemetery on 307 N. 18th St, Wilmington. A light supper will follow the interment at B’nai Israel Synagogue.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the B’nai Israel Cemetery Fund would be greatly appreciated.
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