Obituary of Frances J. Coons

Frances J. ''Fran'' Coons Penn Yan: Frances J. ''Fran'' Coons, age 71, of Penn Yan, NY gave up her fight on Tuesday September 15, 2015 in the comfort of her home with her daughters and her sister at her side. Friends are invited to calling hours from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 22) at the Baird Funeral Home, 36 Water Street, Dundee; where a memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday (Sept. 23) with Pastor Natalie Bowerman, and Pastor Karen Davenport officiating. A graveside service of inurnment with her husband "Cal" will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Dundee. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Ontario-Yates County Hospice Assoc., 756 Pre-Emption Rd., Geneva, NY 14456, or Thrive to Survive, PO Box 1146, Geneva, NY 14456. Frances was born April 28, 1944 in Penn Yan, NY, the daughter of the late Orrin and Ruth Barkley Phillips. She graduated from Dundee Central School in 1962. On Sept. 19, 1964 in the Starkey United Methodist Church she married Calvin F. "Cal" Coons; who passed away on April 6, 2010. A life-long area resident, "Fran" began her 30-year working career starting at Seneca Foods in Dundee soon finding her passion for the food service field. She accepted a Food Service Supervisor position at the Falls Home in Montour Falls, followed by Bethany Village in Horseheads, NY, owning and operating the "Chuckwagon" in Watkins Glen, and retiring from Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital in Penn Yan, NY in 2010. Mrs. Coons was a member of the former Starkey United Methodist Church, attending the Benton United Methodist Church, she was a former 4-H Leader, a Sunday School teacher, and enjoyed her membership of the Watkins Glen Golf Club, and its Woman's Leagues. She loved the time spent outdoors horseback riding or playing golf. She enjoyed baking, playing the organ, dancing, and playing cards, and relaxed by reading, creating photo albums, and keeping journals. In recent years, she enjoyed being a member of the Penn Yan Community Chorus and various women's groups. She will be deeply missed by her 4 daughters Darlene E. Coons of Germantown, MD, Cheryl J. Hasty of Corning, NY, Brenda L. (Eric) Rinehimer of Weare, NH, and Bonnie F. (Rhey Dominick) Alcid of Gaithersburg, MD; 10 grandchildren, Drexel & Ayla Axeloons, Whitley, Racheal, Isiah & Malcolm Hasty, Emmet & Molly Rinehimer, Rhey Oliver, & Nora Vivienne Alcid; her sister Barbara Nadjadi of Savona, NY; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband she was pre-deceased by a brother Donald Phillips on January 21, 2005, and a sister Bernice Woodard on March 18, 2011. Online condolences can be sent by visiting www.bairdfuneralhomedundee.com.