Frances Fran"" E. (Larrabee) Underwood

Frances ""Fran"" E. (Larrabee) Underwood, 79, of East Hartford, loving wife of 35 years of the late Kenneth ""Bud"" Underwood, peacefully entered into eternal life with her caring family by her side on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at St. Francis Hospital, Hartford. Born in Hartford on August 7, 1935, a daughter of the late Francis L. and Grace (Murphy) Larrabee, she had been a life-long resident of East Hartford. Fran was a graduate of East Hartford High School, Class of 1953 and was employed by Travelers Insurance Company, Hartford for 24 years prior to her retirement in 2002. A devout Catholic, Fran was a faithful communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church, East Hartford here she was a Eucharistic Minister and past President of their Ladies Guild. In 2007, Fran was awarded the ""Archdiocesan Medal of Appreciation"" by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell, D.D. for all her dedication and volunteer work at Blessed Sacrament Church. She was also an avid fan of the UCONN Women's basketball team but most of all she was a proud and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to her own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and so many extended family members that called her ""Mom"" or ""Gram"". Fran is survived by her four children, Denise ""Dee"" A. Trent and her husband, Bruce, of Vernon, Robert ""Bob"" L. Underwood and Lisa Chotkowski of Glastonbury, Elaine M. Dube and her husband, Roger, of East Hartford, Thomas ""Tom"" L. Underwood and his wife, Marjorie, of East Hartford; a brother-in-law, Phillip L. Underwood of East Hartford; a special niece and goddaughter, Maureen A. Sylvester and her husband, Steven, of Cheshire. She also leaves fourteen special grandchildren, Derrick Ficara, Deana Breault and her husband Jason, Duane Ficara, Nicole Arno and her husband Scott, Amy Dionne and her husband Eddie, Jennifer Trent, Stephanie Bennett and her husband Luke, Ian Underwood, Logan Underwood, Ally Underwood, Stacey Vera and her husband Harold, Stephanie Tena and her husband Manny, Alaina Underwood, Stephen Underwood; fifteen cherished great-grandchildren and a great-granddaughter and great-grandson on their way; several nieces, nephews, dear friends, and many extended family members. Besides her beloved husband and parents, Fran was predeceased by a daughter, Linda E. Underwood of East Hartford. Funeral service will be Friday (January 16th) at 9:30 am from the D'Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, East Hartford. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Thursday (January 15th) from 3-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Fran's name may be made to Blessed Sacrament Church, 36 Cambridge Drive, East Hartford, CT 06118. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.