Frances Keese DeMario

DeMARIO, Frances Keese, age 92, of Midlothian, Va., formerly of Merrick, N.Y., passed away Friday, June 26, 2015. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 43 years, Steve; her parents, Leslie Lewis and Catherine Frances Keese; sisters, Rita and Mary; and brothers, John and Leslie Jr. Born in Concord, Mass. in April 1923, Frances graduated from Sargent College of Boston University in 1946 and went on to earn her Masters Degree from Columbia University in New York. She spent a lifetime as an educator and guidance counselor, working throughout the Northeast and finishing her career at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, N.Y. With an adventurous spirit and a love of travel and outdoors, Frances worked at many summer camps in New England, sailed to Europe aboard the Queen Mary and never passed up an opportunity to travel.

Frances is survived by her daughter, Mary Joan Morsch and her husband, Jeff; and her adored grandsons, William and James. She is also survived by her cousin, Josephine Chotras; nieces, Bonnie DeMario, Diane Rowley (Jim), Bonnie Morrissey (Matthew), Cathy Busquets (Jimmy), Catherine Marion (David) and Leslie Ann Pierce (Mike); nephews, Frank DeMario (Rosemary), John Keese (Billy Jean) David Keese (Liz), Larry Keese (Kathy), Brian Keese (Cathy), Shaun McNamara, Michael McQueeny (Arlene) and Kevin McQueeny (Millie); and many great-nieces and nephews, as well as friends throughout the United States.

Her remains rest at the Huguenot Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Rd., where the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Funeral services will be held on July 11, 2015, at Dee Funeral Home in Concord, Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bon Secours Richmond Hospice or Sargent College of Boston University.