Frances E. Galvin, 88, also known as Darmy, died peacefully at home on February 20. A West Roxbury resident for nearly 60 years, Fran loved all that life had to offer and was the ultimate people person, making friends wherever she went and enjoying every minute of it. Fran especially loved her husband of 62 years, Frank, also known as Lefty, who passed away nearly two years ago. Fran and Lefty’s romance started on the dusty ball fields of Jamaica Plain, and will live on forever in our memories.
Fran was adored by her six children and their spouses: Mary Scardino and her husband Jim of Wellesley; Frank Jr. and his wife Lynn of West Roxbury; Kathleen Fleming and her husband Rob of Concord; Joseph and his wife Maureen of West Roxbury; Theresa Driscoll and her husband Bill of West Roxbury; and Clare Karos and her husband Jim of Roslindale. Fran had 18 loving grandchildren – Frank, Molly, Lauren, Brian, Alex, Katie, Hannah, Sam, Elizabeth, Christina, Julia, Will, Mikayla, Brendan, Owen, Gabriel, Grace and Mac – one great granddaughter, Lucy (and two more on the way!) – and a new pal named Scout. Her grandchildren’s spouses, Campbell, Josh, Jen and Kellen, round out the gang.
Fran was a JP girl through and through, and her Boston accent was even better than her husband’s. She was born in 1930 to Joseph and Anne Baxter and was raised in Jamaica Plain, one of eight siblings. She was the devoted sister of Dorothy Pitts of Brockton; H. Patricia Tanner of Melbourne, Australia; Jeanne Lavine of Framingham; and John Baxter of Denton, NC. Fran was predeceased by her younger brothers Philip and Joseph Baxter, and by her dear sister, Carol O’Day.
Fran was a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Jamaica Plain, and worked at the John Hancock Insurance Company. She was an active member of Holy Name Parish in West Roxbury, a volunteer at local nursing homes, an expert babysitter, crafter, gardener and chef. She thanked God daily for her many blessings. In addition to her immediate family, Fran loved her many nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and many friends – old and new. Special thanks to the ladies and fellow guests of The Julia Ruth House, who filled our mom’s final years with love, fun and friendship.
Funeral from the Robert J. Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St., West Roxbury, on Saturday, Feb 23, at 9:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Holy Name Church at 10:00 am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visitation in the funeral home on Friday, Feb. 22, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at Holy Name Church, or The Julia Ruth House, 199 Canton St., Westwood.
Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home
617-323-5600