Frances Dorothy Iavarone, age 87, of Clinton, passed away on May 28. She was the wife of Michael A. Iavarone Sr. for almost 70 years. She was the daughter of the late Edward K. Maleswieski and Stephanie Kullis Maleswieski. She was born in Newark, New Jersey, on Dec. 3, 1935.

Having moved to Middletown and married, they moved to Clinton, where she and her husband lived until her passing. Living near the beach, she spent an abundance of time with her children enjoying all that the shore could offer. Occasionally they could be found traveling areas along the East Coast up to their property in Maine.

Fran was an excellent cook – from cooking a real homestyle Thanksgiving meal in the wood-fired stove/oven in her basement to working in the kitchen at The Morgan School. She could satisfy the palettes of individuals desiring a variety of cuisines. Fran also was an avid reader of numerous newspapers and magazines, cutting out articles of interest to others and delivering them to the Clinton Senior Citizens Club, of which she was a past member. She so loved people and interacting with the community as a Cub Scout den mother, a supporter of her children and grandchildren’s extracurricular activities, or as a past member of the Clinton Garden Club and St. Mary’s Alter Society. She was dedicated to helping start the first-ever Morgan High School Huskies football team, including transporting players and equipment to games. She could be seen regularly cheering at both her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events.

Fran and her husband (a caller) were avid square and round dancers traveling the state, nationally, and internationally with numerous clubs and friends. She was such an extraordinary seamstress that she could be found in her basement making custom square dance dresses and kremlins. That ability overflowed to mending and altering high school football uniforms as well as dress uniforms for the volunteer fire department.

Fran was such a sweet, kind, and loving woman right up through the final moments of her life. Her smiles, hugs, laughter, and love of pets were infectious and are sure to be missed by acquaintances and strangers alike.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her one son Michael A. Iavarone Jr. of Clinton (Patricia), and one daughter, June Sefchick, of Northwest Palm Bay, Florida. She is further survived by four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by two sisters.

A service was held June 5 at the Swan Funeral Home in Clinton, with Interment immediately following at the Beaver Brook Cemetery in Clinton. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Carl Swan and Hamden Memorial Funeral Home, 1300 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden. Condolences may be expressed at Hamdenmemorialfuneralhome.com.