Mrs. Florence E. (Feeley) Keras 87 of 161 Oak St., former Franklin Town Clerk, died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family Monday, October 1, 2007, following a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Vincent J. Keras, who died in 1995. They were married Nov. 27, 1943 and had 52 devoted years together.
Born in Franklin, May 4, 1920 a daughter of the late Dennis J. and Florence (Cody) Feeley, she was a lifelong Franklin resident. She was educated in local schools, and was a 1937 graduate of Franklin High School, where she was the recipient of the Frances Eddy King Good Citizenship Medal. She was also a graduate of the former Hill School of Business in Boston.
She retired in 1985 after having served 2 terms as Franklin Town Clerk. Before serving as the town clerk, Mrs. Keras also was the on call counselor for the Norfolk County District Attorney's Sexual Assault Unit, was the first full time Matron and administrative assistant to the Franklin chief of police, was a secretary at the Davis Thayer School in Franklin, and worked as an account representative for the former Union Power and Light Co. now Mass Electric. During World War II, she served as a civil defense air raid warden.
A lifetime communicant of St. Mary's Church, she was a former Sunday School teacher, and was a former member of St. Mary's Church Catholic Women's Club. She also taught vacation Bible School where she was affectionately known as "Nana Keras". She also wrote a weekly Girl Scout column for the Woonsocket Call newspaper.
Following her retirement, she volunteered for more than 20 years at Milford-Whitinsville Regional Hospital, where one of her many duties was to make sure that hundreds of people young & old received in depth letters of seasons greetings from Santa Claus. She received many honors of recognition for her volunteer time at the hospital.
Her many joy's in life were spending time with her family, especially summers in North Eastham, creative writing, cooking, and reaching out to others.
She is survived by 4 sons: Robert F. and his wife Carol A. Keras of Franklin, Timothy F. Keras of Franklin with whom she lived, Richard F. and his wife Noreen A. Keras of Townsend, Kevin F. and his wife Margaret A. Keras of Yarmouthport. 2 daughters: Jean Ellen Renwick of Harvard, and Barbara Brunelli and her husband Peter of Franklin. 13 grandchildren: Matthew Keras and his wife Jennifer of N. Attleboro, Kristen Keras of Waltham, Mark Keras, Daniel, David and Kevin Brunelli of Franklin, Paul Renwick of Harvard, Caroline, Katie, Greg and Tom Keras of Townsend, Julia and Vincent J. Keras II of Yarmouthport, and with great joy she anticipated the birth of her first great grandchild to be born in the spring of 2008.
She was also the mother of the late Paul V. Keras. She was the sister of the late William J. Clifford, Robert and Lester Feeley, Alice Bardol, Norah Carr and Jean Wyllie.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Saturday at 9:45 AM from the Charles F. Oteri & Son Franklin Funeral Home, 33 Cottage St. with a funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church, 1 Church SQ, Franklin at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow in the family lot in St. Mary's parish cemetery.
Calling hours are Friday from 4-8 PM.
Donations in her memory sent to the Florence E. Keras Franklin High School Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Dean Bank, 21 Main St., Franklin, MA 02038 would be appreciated.