Fran Moira Singer

Fran Moira Singer, age 64, a longtime resident of Maynard, MA passed away unexpectedly at her home on Monday, September 26, 2016 from complications due to Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).

Fran was born in New York City to her beloved parents Samuel and Sylvia (Senner) Singer (both deceased). Fran is also predeceased by her step-mother, Betty (Birkhahn) Singer. Fran is survived by her step-brother Jonathan Birkhahn, his wife Lexi and her niece, Bryn Birkhahn of New York, NY, and step-sister Nell Pallotta and her husband Barry of Woodbridge, Virginia. She is also survived by seven loving cousins - Rhoda Glenn, Tybe Rubin, Michael Savitt, Stephen Savitt, Carolyn Schorr, Marcy Schwartz, and Michael Singer. Her cousin Marcy remembers Fran as Frannie, which is the name that her family had called her since Fran was a little baby girl.
Cousin Tybe remembers Fran as a beautiful child who brought joy and happiness to the family.

Fran did her undergraduate work at the State University at Albany, where she majored in English. She spent her junior year studying in Nice, France. It was a joyous year in which she established the first of what would be many lifelong friendships. "Ah, Monsieur Benoliel! Mais donc, alors, et ben…" "Nice was a party" especially with Fran.

After receiving her Masters in Special Education from Boston College, Fran began her professional life as a special education teacher at West Junior High School in Brockton, MA. As a teacher, Fran devoted herself to helping her students, working with their parents, and sharing her knowledge and sense of humor with her colleagues, many of whom remained Fran's lifelong friends.

She completed a Certificate of Technical Writing from Middlesex Community College in Burlington, MA before successfully transitioning to the Technical Writing field.

Fran held various levels of responsibilities as a writer, trainer, and project leader. She spent the majority of her career working in high tech companies such as Easel, Sybase, Lucent, and most recently, at Juniper Networks. Colleagues could count on Fran to not only get the job done, but to significantly enhance a work process along the way. Fran remained friends with many of her co-workers, even when they moved on to different jobs.

It may be an obvious statement, but Fran leaves a large extended family of very close friends and work colleagues from all facets of her life. To know Fran was to love Fran. She will always be remembered for her gift of humor (and inherent comedic timing), her kind heart, and independent spirit. Her warmth and thoughtfulness always left her friends and colleagues looking forward to the next get together (oh, the stories she would tell), phone call (oh, the laughter), or e-mail (ahhh…this project is put to bed). Fran cherished her friends and we cherished her. We are all the better for having Fran in our lives. She left us far too soon.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 13 at 12:30 pm at
Kerem Shalom, 659 Elm Street, Concord, MA 01742
(978-369-1223)
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.

Donations in Fran's memory can be sent to:

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) Registry
Massachusetts General Hospital
Blake 4, GI Unit
55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114
https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/
Click selection for a specific program or area of MGH
Designate donation to "Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) Registry"
Or
Kerem Shalom
659 Elm Street
P.O. Box 1646
Concord, MA 01742

www.keremshalom.org
Add note: Donation to be used for Special Education.
Or
An Art Museum of your choice