Francis Harold Conway
July 11, 1918 — October 24, 2008
Francis Harold Conway
FRANCIS FRANK HAROLD CONWAY
LITTLETON, NH -- On July 11, 1918, Henry and Celia Conway of Berlin, New Hampshire, welcomed a new son, Francis Harold (immediately called Frank) into their large, loud and loving family. Ninety years later, on October 24, 2008, Frank quietly left this life, leaving his own large, loud and loving family. In between, Frank married his true love, Jannice Brown, on April 4, 1942, provided unconditional love, support and counsel to his three daughters and achieved the most crucial of all life goals: to live an honorable life filled with kindness and humor.
Franks life was rich with experiences and achievements that others might describe as heroic, tragic, inspiring and extraordinary, but Frank never used these adjectives about himself; he was a modest man who accepted lifes challenges with stoicism and grace. Frank had a huge stock of stories from his childhood, filled with humor and warmth, featuring the adventures of him and his six siblings working and playing together. Frank never presented the fact that they slept three to a bed or the lack of indoor plumbing as anything but entertaining details. Later, the stories of Franks courtship with Jannice Brown at Keene Teachers College are legendary in the family. Most famous are the tales of Franks money-making scheme to provide transport from Keene to the North Country in his brothers 1929 Studebaker with the fold-down third seat, to anyone who could come up with the $5.00. One frequent passenger from Colebrook moved from the back seat to the front seat and eventually made her way into Franks heart. Jannice, only eighteen at the time of their marriage, knew she had found her soul-mate. Their unwavering love helped them survive the next difficult chapter of life. When their daughter Nancy was only ten days old, Frank left for World War II where he served in the elite 10th Mountain Division, the ski troops, in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. Frank was seriously injured on April 15th, 1945 and spent many months in far-away hospitals. He maintained lifelong friendships with several of his army buddies, and continued to be active in the 10th Mountain Division until his death. Although he was declared 90% disabled by the Veterans Administration and received the Purple Heart for bravery, Franks strongest description of this period of his life was it was a little tough. He chose to focus on how blessed he was to survive.
Frank returned to college at the University of New Hampshire after the war, still on crutches, and he, Jannice and Nancy had a few wonderful years living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire surrounded by other young G.I. families. After graduation Frank accepted a position with the Social Security Administration back in the North Country. He and Jannice settled down in Littleton where they raised their family and developed a rich network of friends. One of Franks happiest memories of these years, aside from the joys of his family, was his participation in the Barbershop Singers, where he sang lead in a quartet and caused quite a stir throughout the SPEBSQSA circuit. Women were known to swoon when Frank belted out his rendition of Tell Me Why. He and Jannice could be heard singing barbershop standards, as well as Methodist hymns, while Frank washed and Jannice dried the dishes. It was a good life.
Frank retired from the Social Security Administration as District Manager in 1979. His 30 years of retirement allowed Janice to put him to work as her aide-de-camp. They travelled to North Carolina each spring and lived at Goose Rocks Beach, Maine during the summers. At Goose Rocks, Frank and Janice hosted their growing family of grandchildren and developed many dear friends. Frank carried a cup of coffee down to the beach every day for Janice. Even as his knees grew less reliable, he would brave the sands to bring Jannice that coffee, not because she asked, but because this was one of many little ways he showed his love.
In recent years, Franks wry sense of humor and sweet disposition helped make him and Jannice a popular fixture first at the Clamshell Restaurant and more recently at the 99 where Franks picture graces the wall and he is treated like family. As his actual family has grown, Frank has shared the gift of his wisdom and his ability to see the comic absurdity of life with his six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was always interested in and proud of their lives and their accomplishments. Even as his memory began to desert him, he gave the gift of love and attention to his family.
Frank is survived by his dear Jannice of Littleton, his daughters Nancy Conway of Chester, Vermont, Jane Mackay and her husband Dennis of Lancaster and Cathryn Conway-Dorr and her husband Scott of Berwick, Maine, as well as six grandchildren: Stephanie Davis and her husband Clifford Harriman of Lebanon; Joanna Davis-Bart and her husband Eric of Boxford, Massachusetts; Emily MacKay of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Alison MacKay of Durham, North Carolina and Molly and Alex Dorr of Berwick, Maine. Seven great grandchildren were also lucky to get to know their great grandfather.
SERVICES -- Calling hours will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, October 26 at the Pillsbury Funeral Home located at 101 Union Street in Littleton. A funeral mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Littleton at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 27th with Rev. Fr. Marcel Martel as Celebrant. Burial will be in the St. Rose Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Northern Human Services, PO Box 599, Littleton, NH 03561.
Arrangements and care have been entrusted to the Pillsbury Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Inc. To view an online memorial or to send a message of condolence, please visit www.pillsburyfh.com.
LITTLETON, NH -- On July 11, 1918, Henry and Celia Conway of Berlin, New Hampshire, welcomed a new son, Francis Harold (immediately called Frank) into their large, loud and loving family. Ninety years later, on October 24, 2008, Frank quietly left this life, leaving his own large, loud and loving family. In between, Frank married his true love, Jannice Brown, on April 4, 1942, provided unconditional love, support and counsel to his three daughters and achieved the most crucial of all life goals: to live an honorable life filled with kindness and humor.
Franks life was rich with experiences and achievements that others might describe as heroic, tragic, inspiring and extraordinary, but Frank never used these adjectives about himself; he was a modest man who accepted lifes challenges with stoicism and grace. Frank had a huge stock of stories from his childhood, filled with humor and warmth, featuring the adventures of him and his six siblings working and playing together. Frank never presented the fact that they slept three to a bed or the lack of indoor plumbing as anything but entertaining details. Later, the stories of Franks courtship with Jannice Brown at Keene Teachers College are legendary in the family. Most famous are the tales of Franks money-making scheme to provide transport from Keene to the North Country in his brothers 1929 Studebaker with the fold-down third seat, to anyone who could come up with the $5.00. One frequent passenger from Colebrook moved from the back seat to the front seat and eventually made her way into Franks heart. Jannice, only eighteen at the time of their marriage, knew she had found her soul-mate. Their unwavering love helped them survive the next difficult chapter of life. When their daughter Nancy was only ten days old, Frank left for World War II where he served in the elite 10th Mountain Division, the ski troops, in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. Frank was seriously injured on April 15th, 1945 and spent many months in far-away hospitals. He maintained lifelong friendships with several of his army buddies, and continued to be active in the 10th Mountain Division until his death. Although he was declared 90% disabled by the Veterans Administration and received the Purple Heart for bravery, Franks strongest description of this period of his life was it was a little tough. He chose to focus on how blessed he was to survive.
Frank returned to college at the University of New Hampshire after the war, still on crutches, and he, Jannice and Nancy had a few wonderful years living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire surrounded by other young G.I. families. After graduation Frank accepted a position with the Social Security Administration back in the North Country. He and Jannice settled down in Littleton where they raised their family and developed a rich network of friends. One of Franks happiest memories of these years, aside from the joys of his family, was his participation in the Barbershop Singers, where he sang lead in a quartet and caused quite a stir throughout the SPEBSQSA circuit. Women were known to swoon when Frank belted out his rendition of Tell Me Why. He and Jannice could be heard singing barbershop standards, as well as Methodist hymns, while Frank washed and Jannice dried the dishes. It was a good life.
Frank retired from the Social Security Administration as District Manager in 1979. His 30 years of retirement allowed Janice to put him to work as her aide-de-camp. They travelled to North Carolina each spring and lived at Goose Rocks Beach, Maine during the summers. At Goose Rocks, Frank and Janice hosted their growing family of grandchildren and developed many dear friends. Frank carried a cup of coffee down to the beach every day for Janice. Even as his knees grew less reliable, he would brave the sands to bring Jannice that coffee, not because she asked, but because this was one of many little ways he showed his love.
In recent years, Franks wry sense of humor and sweet disposition helped make him and Jannice a popular fixture first at the Clamshell Restaurant and more recently at the 99 where Franks picture graces the wall and he is treated like family. As his actual family has grown, Frank has shared the gift of his wisdom and his ability to see the comic absurdity of life with his six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was always interested in and proud of their lives and their accomplishments. Even as his memory began to desert him, he gave the gift of love and attention to his family.
Frank is survived by his dear Jannice of Littleton, his daughters Nancy Conway of Chester, Vermont, Jane Mackay and her husband Dennis of Lancaster and Cathryn Conway-Dorr and her husband Scott of Berwick, Maine, as well as six grandchildren: Stephanie Davis and her husband Clifford Harriman of Lebanon; Joanna Davis-Bart and her husband Eric of Boxford, Massachusetts; Emily MacKay of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Alison MacKay of Durham, North Carolina and Molly and Alex Dorr of Berwick, Maine. Seven great grandchildren were also lucky to get to know their great grandfather.
SERVICES -- Calling hours will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, October 26 at the Pillsbury Funeral Home located at 101 Union Street in Littleton. A funeral mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Littleton at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 27th with Rev. Fr. Marcel Martel as Celebrant. Burial will be in the St. Rose Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Northern Human Services, PO Box 599, Littleton, NH 03561.
Arrangements and care have been entrusted to the Pillsbury Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Inc. To view an online memorial or to send a message of condolence, please visit www.pillsburyfh.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Francis Harold Conway, please visit our flower store.
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