Frances G. Benway

Frances, beloved sister, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed on to God’s Eternal Kingdom on November, 25th, 2012 at Massena Memorial Hospital, Massena NY, after fighting the good fight against cancer.

Fran was born in Marblehead MA, on 18 November 1926 to Francis and Iva Spellman and lived most of her life in Salem and Danvers MA, but in later years lived in Silver Springs FL, Niagara and Cornwell Canada.

During WWII Fran worked in a factory that produced materials for the war effort. During that time she was awarded a Presidential Citation, signed by Franklin D Roosevelt, commending her for a suggestion she submitted which resulted in increasing the production efficiency of the item(s) she was working on.

In later years she became a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked for many years as the night nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Salem Hospital in Salem MA. She received many accolades and praise for her work there.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert P. Leroux and Arthur Benway, her son, Ronald Leroux, her father, Francis J. Spellman, mother, Iva H. Lewis Spellman LaBonte, her brothers, James and William Spellman, of California, her sister, Elizabeth Spellman Picariello of Swampscott MA.

She is survived by 3 sons, their spouses, and grandchildren, Col. Robert P. Leroux, Retired USAF, and wife Sue of Alabama , Rev. Donald F. Leroux, Retired MSgt, USAF and wife Mary of North Dakota, Jay Leroux and wife Pam of Delaware, Adopted Sons Glenn MacDonald and Wayne Robbilee, three sisters, and their spouses, Margaret Spellman and Robert Goodwin, Mary Spellman and David Schaejbe of Salem, MA and Dorothy Spellman and Kenneth MacAskill of Marblehead, MA, and one brother, Richard Spellman of ME, and numerous nieces, and nephews, 10 grand children and 14 great-grandchildren and her companion, Leo Beaubien, of Cornwall, Canada.

A memorial service will be held in the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead on Wednesday, December 5 at 1PM. Interment to follow in Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. The Family request that donations be made to your local food bank in lieu of flowers.