Frances D. Weaver

Frances Eileen (Dick) Weaver, age 90, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2019 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp.

She was born Frances B. Farlou on June 18, 1928 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, the daughter of Frances M. Farlou, and was adopted at the age of three by Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Dick and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

She attended parochial grammar school at St. Laurence O’Toole and St. Mary’s High School, both in Lawrence, and graduated from Edward F. Searles High School in Methuen, Massachusetts in 1946.

From 1947-1948 Frances Dick matriculated at Mount Saint Vincent College (now University) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, until family sickness required her to return home to care for her mother. She then enrolled in a business course at the McIntosh School in Lawrence, where she graduated in 1948.

Frances’ working career spanned 63 years, beginning in 1943 at 15 years of age selling peanuts at the Planter’s Peanut Store in downtown Lawrence. From 1944 to 1946 she worked as a soda jerk for Liggett’s Drug Store in Lawrence while attending high school.

From 1949-1952 she was employed by the Weston F. Eastman Insurance Company as a private secretary. During this same time she was a part-time volunteer at the new Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen, Massachusetts. Frances worked in the X-Ray Department and was also secretary to the hospital administrator. She was very proud to be chosen as the first May Queen and in that capacity crowned the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the liturgical celebration at the hospital. The name was changed to Holy Family Hospital but the statue still remains today.

Frances Eileen Dick married Robert Ray Weaver from Port Matilda, Pennsylvania on November 27, 1952 at St. Laurence O’Toole Catholic Church in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

During the years of their marriage, the Weavers lived at different times in both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and raised a family of five children― three boys and two girls. Even while she was nurturing her children and keeping a house, Frances worked outside the home too, in the evenings or on the weekends to provide a better life for her family.

The Weaver family moved back to Pennsylvania in 1964 and in 1967 Frances once again worked outside the home as a waitress at the Howard Johnson Restaurant on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Cranberry Township. Frances was a hard-working woman who never slowed down.

She is best remembered as the owner-operator of “Fran’s Dairy Queen” on Rt. 8 in Gibsonia, PA. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver purchased this little soft-serve custard stand located beside Ranalli’s Drive-In theater in 1968. In 1977 she expanded to a full service Dairy Queen Brazier and moved this franchise up the road from the original location. She operated from this site until it closed in 1981 and then managed another Dairy Queen stand located on Rt. 65 in Belleview until 1982.

Frances’ husband of 45 years, Robert R. Weaver, passed away on December 23, 1997 and is buried in the West Union Cemetery in Pine Township.

Mrs. Weaver finally retired in 2006. She was a resident of Pine Township for 40 years. In 2012, she moved to Valencia with her daughter, Maureen Peck

Frances enjoyed playing cards and bingo as pastime hobbies and enjoyed spending time with family and friends, of which she had many from a long and full life of 90 years.

Frances Weaver leaves to cherish her memory, a half-brother, Paul F. Coleman, of Great Barrington, MA and one brother-in-law, Rich Weaver (Nikki) of Mars.

Mother of Steve Weaver (Kathy) of Muncie, IN, Ellen Heyl (Gary) of Evans City, Maureen Peck (Gary Kirkpatrick) of Valencia, Mike Weaver (Sheryl) of Valencia, and Bryan Weaver of Saxonburg.

Grandmother of Craig Peck, Laura Peck, Kevin Peck, Michael Heyl, Dannaye Lott, Rachel Bridwell, Rebecca Weaver, Randall Weaver, and Zachary Weaver.

Great-Grandmother of Anya Peck, Marina Missos, Mackenzie Peck, Madison Peck, Amelia Weaver, Liam Bridwell, Chandler Bridwell, Chazz Heyl, Colin Heyl, and two step great-grandchildren, Brandon Knochel and Adalyn Bridwell.

Friends will be received at the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home, Inc., 238 Crowe Ave. Mars, PA on Friday from 2-4 & 6-8PM. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. Kilian Catholic Church, 7076 Franklin Road, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 followed by interment in Holy Savior Cemetery. Directions and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.