GRAFTON – Frances K. (Yerka) O’Bara, 84, died Sunday, May 4, in St. Camillus Health Center, Whitinsville. Her husband of 47 years, Stanley F. O’Bara, died in 1998.
She leaves two daughters, Kathryn Beaudry and her husband Robert of South Grafton, and Valerie A. Boggia and her husband Brian of Wayland; two sons, Christopher J. O’Bara and his wife Kathleen of Washington, West Virginia, and James S. O’Bara and his wife Siobhan of Harwich; ten grandchildren, Amy and Lee Beaudry, Bradford, Rachael and Sarah Boggia, Ian and Meredith O’Bara, and Elizabeth, Catie and Emily Maguire; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by five brothers and six sisters.
She was born and raised in East Douglas, a daughter of Andrew and Katherine (Zelonka) Yerka. She graduated from Douglas High School in 1942 and from the St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in 1948. She lived in Grafton from 1951 until moving to St. Camillus in 2003.
A registered nurse, Mrs. O’Bara first did private duty nursing at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester. She then was on the nursing staff at the former Whitinsville Hospital. She also worked at several area nursing homes. From 1989 to 1998, she was the nurse for the Town of Grafton Board of Health. She retired at age 75.
She was a member of Saint Philip’s Church. She enjoyed swimming and sports. She cherished her long career in nursing. She loved being a mother, raising her children and spending quality time with her grandchildren.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 17, her 85th birthday, with a Mass in St. Philip’s Church, 12 West Street,Grafton. Burial will be private. There are no calling hours. Donations may be made to either St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association, c/o Mary Ellen Alty, 5 Ash St., Leominster, MA 01453 or to St. Camillus Health Center Activity Fund, 447 Hill St. Whitinsville, MA 01588. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main St.,Webster.