April 8, 1920 - March 9, 2014
COOPERSTOWN - Frances Kraham Watson, age 93, of Ross Township, PA, passed away March 9, 2014.
She was born Frances Hope Kraham in Cooperstown on April 8, 1920, a daughter of Michael P. and Sarah (Rohan) Kraham. Born into a family of six boys and six girls, Frances' family home's backyard fence was a part of the outfield fence at Doubleday Field. Baseball ended up being an important part of her evening radio and television past-time.
After graduating from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1937, she later graduated from Oneonta Normal School. She taught for a few years in the Herkimer area, but soon after moved down to New York City and was employed with American Airlines. There, she met her future husband, Harold, and they were married in 1949.
Frances and Harold had two sons, Thomas and John, and lived in Columbus, Ohio, Birmingham, Michigan, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for Harold's Eastern Airlines career.
Harold died in 1967, but Frances, being the ever devoted mother, raised her sons alone in both Pittsburgh and San Diego, before settling back into Pittsburgh for the remainder of her life. She never remarried, but enjoyed family time with her son's families, and was fortunate to see all six of her grandchildren grow up. She was even able to meet two of her great grandchildren, and unfortunately missed by one month meeting her 3rd great grandchild.
Frances loved reading, doing crossword puzzles, was a wonderful singer, and her occasional trips to Atlantic City were fun diversions.
She taught her children many things, but the two most enduring lessons are "do unto others as you would have them do unto you", and "don't judge a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes". She will be dearly missed.
Frances is survived by two sons, Thomas Watson (and former daughter-in-law, Cheryl) and John Watson and Suzanne; grandchildren, Thomas (Natalie), Mark, Christopher, Casey, Kelli and Blake; great grandchildren, Johnathan, Gabriel and newborn Catherine Gloria Hope. She is further survived by one brother, William R. Kraham and his wife Anne, a sister-in-law, Jane Kraham and countless nieces and nephews from her large family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Watson; five brothers, Robert S. Kraham and wife Katherine, Charles Rohan Kraham and wife Mary Ann, Paul M. Kraham and wife Cora, John Carroll Kraham and wife Consuelo, and Richard A. Kraham; and five sisters, Helen Hourigan and husband Edward, Kathryn Grady and husband William, Gertrude Howard and husband Raymond, Mary Farber and husband Sidney, and Madeline.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 1 PM on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding. The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Index with Deacon Randy Velez, officiating.
The family suggests memorial donations to Little Sisters of the Poor, 1028 Benton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 14212.
Local arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
