Frances Smolenski

OXFORD – Frances R. (Varano) Smolenski, 96, of Pine Ridge Drive, died Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester.  She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Henry E. Smolenski who died in 1997.  She is survived by three children, Diane F. Freeman of Putnam, CT, Michael H. Smolenski and is wife Virginia of East Providence, RI; and Donna R. Stone of Oxford; a sister, Antoinette Pipitone of Florida; four grandchildren, Casey Freeman and his wife Heather, Jaimie Freeman, Jennifer Stone, and Brandon Smolenski; two great-granddaughters, Vera and Josie; nephews and nieces.  She was predeceased by four brothers, Anthony Varano, Joseph Varano, Raphael Varano and Lawrence Varano.  She was born in Carbondale, PA, daughter of the late Anthony and Josephine (Lorratto) Varano, and lived in Pennsylvania and New York, before moving to Oxford in 1945.  She graduated from Columbus High School in Carbondale, PA, in 1944.

Mrs. Smolenski was a cosmetician at the former Cherry & Webb Company in Auburn for 10 years, retiring in 1989.  She was a member of St. Roch’s Church, the Golden Age Club, and the Oxford Senior Center, all in Oxford.  She was a former member of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus Council 4241 in Oxford.

A funeral will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, from Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, followed by a Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Roch’s Church, 332 Main St., Oxford.  Entombment will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester.  Calling hours are Tuesday, June 21, 2022, from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.