Kathy,
Karen and I are so saddened to hear that Frank passed away this summer. We were reminiscing about our kitchen that Frank had remodeled in 1981 in Stamford, CT. Karen is now on her 12th kitchen as we have moved quite often. It all started with the one Frank did! And of course the Philips Park memories will be with us forever…it was at a picnic that we first met. It was Frank that encouraged Karen to go.  I hope this note finds you well and again we express our condolences in the passing of Frank.
John and Karen Kalec
Johnkalec@gmail.com

Hi Frank,
   Well, here it is 2016 and I think of you and all of my friends and family who you are now with as you watch down upon your loved ones. I recently heard this song ,"If heaven weren't so far away" which came out right after I had lost a good friend and it made me think of PJ and so many others whom you had known. Now it also reminds me of you as I remember how proud you were of your family, your farm and your  beautiful work that you had the talent to turn out. Take care and please know that you are thought of everyday and that as you know, you left all of us far to soon and that your family misses you so very much. Kathy is getting pretty good at tractor repairs now so I am sure that you are guiding her in that area and they all  are learning plumbing techniques from barn repairs.  Take care young friend and Happy New Years.
Reg Patchell

Justin Moore - If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away - YouTube
Video for country western song if heaven weren't so far away 3:46
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55GAUgjpDQA

Frank, I am sorry that so many miles over the years had fallen between us. Now time has taken away the chance to make up for the years. I truly hope your life was grand and filled much happiness. To your wife and family my deepest sympathies in your passing. I hope they may find peace and comfort in our Loving God Jehovah in time passing.

Hi Kathy & Jenn,
  Can you please contact me when you get a moment?  Take care- -  I  still find myself trying to call and talk to Frank, miss him a LOT!
Reg Patchell
reggiepatchell@comcast.net
860 822 6228  best # to call
860 917 5064

Kathy, Jennifer & Hailey, 
Our sincerest sympathy to you.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you now.  Pat & Robyn

Dear Kathy, Jen and Hailey,
It's very difficult to express the depth of our sympathies. Frank was so much more than a husband, father and a Grandpa. He was a best friend, confidant, mentor and a problem solver. His love and pride for you shined through the most casual conversations. The dream he and Kathy shared of Spring Valley Farm a journey that could include Jen and her passion became so much more than a family business. It became a tight knit extended family. A safe spot that has produced many, many successful adults. It always seems too late to say thank you, your dream has made countless others come true. If not for Kathy and Frank taking that chance on the farm we would not have been blessed with the friendship and memories we share. Continue on now Frank, as the guardian Angel and watch over those who loved you so. We know your around, your work here is done. Rest in peace my friend until we meet again.

Kathy, Jenn and Hailey,
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We are only a phone call away if you need anything. Spring Valley will not be the same without "Grandpa" there but he will be watching over you all. Spring Vally has an Angel now.

Mrs. Ross, Jenn, and Hailey,

Our hearts ache for you during this time and days to come.  You will be in our thoughts and prayers.  I know he was and is very special to each of you.  Hold on tight to each other.
13428
The McWhorter Family (Shawn, Natasha, and Madison)

Hi Kathy & Jenn and of course, Hailey,
    We were so sorry to hear of Frank's accident and unfortunate passing with a phone call from Kathy, one that was so hard for her to make and so hard for me to listen to. I am proud to say that I have known the Ross family for almost twenty years now, meeting back when I use to transport the horses for the Ross family along with the rest of the farm to the many area horse shows. I watched and listed to Jennifer as she grew from a young teenager into the young lady that she has become, all the while listening to Frank, the  oh so proud father.  Frank would talk  about his love of his family and how very proud he was of Jenn & Kathy and all that they had done and also how he might approach life ( and those who dared to cross the Ross's door to attempt the date with his young daughter). We would have not only the serious talks of what was to come BUT also all of the great fun times and talks that we had so very often. Frank & Kathy became a LOT more to me then just a horse or horses to transport and became some of my best friends during some very trying times for me as well. Frank was oh so happy, proud and at the same time so very nervous about the purchase of the Spring Valley Farm in Westbrook, CT. a farm that he was trying so very  hard to make sure that it would always give his young daughter a very special place to run, one that would give the family a great family life, not a place that would make them millionaires BUT one that would give everyone who visited there, who stabled there, who lived and worked there a source of good family life and a place to always have a good laugh and smile, even if some of those laughs were about me- that was fine with me knowing that Frank was one of those guys who you could always count on to have a talk with about anything and man who would always give you that honest answer that some may not have wanted to give to you. So many nights the three ( Frank, Kathy, myself and back in the early days my other best friend who I have also lost- PJ Smith, would go out on the town to dance, have a dinner and laugh a LOT. One of the funniest times that we shared was a birthday party of mine that Frank attended and the gifts that were given to me that night and would in turn tag along with me to some of the horse shows. Frank was always the one to remind me of some of our best times together since we did have so many of them I would often just forget one or two BUT  the times with FRank by our sides were always some of my best times. Frank's skills as a carpenter were some that will be envied by so many other carpenters for lives to come since his skills were ones that had to be passed down to those who wanted to learn how to do things right, nay not be the fastest way to do things BUT it was the right way to do things and I only wish that I had not always been such a good friend of FRank's since I wanted to hire him a few times but as all wise men know, friendship and working for a friend do not always go so well and since FRank was the man of wisdom, he was always correct to turn me down telling me that our friendship meant a LOT more to both him & I- rather then trying to fit his skills into my time frame. If I ever felt a bit down I would swing into the farm and just talk and joke with Frank about life,about anything at all and Frank's face as he watched as Jen as she would be coaching a young rider and say- do you remember when??  Frank would smile as we would watch as Kathy would drive in from work or shopping and Frank would just smile and say, now this is what I love, to be here on our farm with my family. So many will never know the love, the peace, the hard work that Frank was able to live,  has done and brought to so many, the laughs that we have shared on so many occasions and how I will miss those times so very much! Please know that if there is anything that an old falling apart body can do to help out- I am still here for your family as I know how FRank would be there for mine if I ever needed anything. Frank was one of the few people who I could always count on and I am so very proud to say that he was one of my best friends. Rest in Peace young man, say hello to PJ for me and I am sure that you will be watching over your family from the beautiful clouds above.

So very sorry to hear about Francis passing. We were neighbors in Homested Circle many years ago. 

Sincerely,
MaryAnne Lebert

OBITUARY

Francis Irving Ross Jr.

November 16, 1949 – June 4, 2015

Swan Funeral Home

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