Frances Anemone

Fran Anemone passed away peacefully at her home in Sparkill, N.Y., surrounded by her children, on November 1, 2025. Born in Manhattan on August 22, 1928,Frances Joan Madden was raised by her loving grandmother Bridget Mooney in Ronkonkoma, New York, where she spent her childhood years swimming in Lake Ronkonkoma amid the potato fields of rural Long Island.

After high school, while living in Manhattan, she met and soon married (in 1945) a young city bus driver by the name of Anthony (Hank) Anemone. When describing the 5 children they raised in Brooklyn, she loved to say, “we raised a Full House - 3 kings and 2 queens”. After the children were off to school, Fran worked at West Side (later Prudential) Savings Bank in Greenwich Village, where she eventually rose from bank teller to VP. She thrived in the working world and managed to be a super-mom long before that was a thing!She was a devoted mother and guided her 5 children through their education, while working full time and commuting by subway daily from Brooklyn to Manhattan. She made many lifelong friends at the bank and gave her job the same attention and devotion she showed her family.

In 1979 she and Hank made a big move cross-country and settled in Sun City, AZ, where they spent 25 wonderful years enjoying their well-earned retirement. Mom’s time in Arizona was full and joyous: her days were full of sports (golf, bowling, swimming, and riding her horse Ginger) and social activities (square dancing and card games) with Hank and the many new friends they made.

Hank and Fran loved to travel across the US,often coming back to NY in the summer,and were able to explore the Desert Southwest on numerous road trips. Her children and grandchildren have many fond memories of visiting Mom and Dad during their years in Arizona.

After returning to the NY area (Lakewood, NJ) in 2004 to be closer to family, Hank passed on suddenly in 2005, and Fran faced the most daunting challenge of her life: that of living once again as a single woman. With the support and love of her children, and her personal faith and strength,she reinvented herself and lived happily at Thorpe Village since 2009.

Throughout her life, Fran was an active and social woman who was loved and valued by her co-workers and the many friends she met along the way. In retirement, she volunteered at hospitals, worked at the election polls and crafts bazaars at Thorpe Village, and spent much time knitting sweaters and scarves for all of us. Her proudest accomplishment was raising her 5 children, who happily provided her with14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren! She was always ready to share the names, ages and accomplishments of her children and their children to any eager listener.

Rooted in a strong Catholic faith, Fran moved through her life with kindness and grace, inspiring others by her example and love.

She is survived by her children: Louis Anemone(wife Lucille Anemone), Patricia Weiscarger, Susan Anemone (husband Barry Griffin), Tony Anemone (wife Vivian Pyle), Robert Anemone (wife Joyce Kubiski). She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and their spouses, 22 great grandchildren (her newest born on her 97th birthday!), her brother, Bill Madden, her sisters in law, Zoila Anemone, Joan Madden and Rosemary Pappagallo and brother- in-law, Tony Pappagallo, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Rose Kahn, her beloved son-in-law, Ron Weiscarger and her granddaughter, Sara Anemone.

Memorial Funeral Mass will be on Monday, November 17th at 10am at St. Anthony's Nanuet.

In Lieu of Flowers family wished donation to: St. Jude's Children's Hospital