WINSLOW – With much sadness, the family announces the peaceful passing of Frances (Rafferty) Roy in the early morning hours of D
ec. 24, 2020 at her home with close friend, Joyce G. Petrosky, at her bedside. Fran was born in Bangor in 1926, the only daughter of Francis Xavier Rafferty and Emma (Nina) L. Rafferty. Fran was very proud of her French-Irish Catholic heritage.
Fran attended schools in Bangor before moving to Fairfield where she attended Lawrence High School. She remained active on committees for class reunions over the years. After graduation, she began her nursing career and training via a WWII program, enrolling in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps at Sister’s Hospital in Waterville. Part of Fran’s training occurred at other sites, including Children’s Hospital in Portland, Brady Maternity Hospital in Albany, N.Y., and hospitals in Baltimore, Md. that covered psychiatry an
d pediatrics. Upon graduating as a Registered Nurse, Fran became the lead Nurse for various companies in Maine and Connecticut, including C.F. Hathaway and G. Fox Department Store; and then as an I.V. Team nurse and Nurse Supervisor at Hartford Hospital.
Fran returned to Maine and to Sister’s Hospital as the 1960’s approached and became the Assistant Head Nurse of the Medical-Surgical Unit. She worked in the Vaccine Clinic when the new polio vaccine was developed. Fran quickly became Head Nurse on the Obstetrical Unit and assisted on many committees. She was Chair of the Employee Campaign to Raise Funds for the new Seton Hospital and arranged many fundraisers. For several years, Fran helped coordinate the hospital Christmas parties that were held for all employees and physicians, and she later became Chair of the Auxiliary Charity Balls.
Fran worked in all areas of the hospital over the course of her outstanding career, overseeing various departments as the hospital went through its many changes. She was deeply involved when Seton and Thayer Hospitals merged to become Mid-Maine Medical Center. She oversaw the Emergency Department for many years. She was very perceptive and one always knew where he or she stood as Fran did not often “mince words.” She was highly organized and strove for excellence and perfection in both her work and home lives.
In the early 1980’s, Fran was promoted to Vice President of Nursing for MMMC until her retirement at the end of the decade. During that span, she was honored many times for her insight and hard work throughout the hospital and for her commitment to the highest standards, successfully leading the hospital through three Joint Commission Surveys.
Always active, in her retirement years, Fran engaged with the Muskie Community Center and ran monthly blood pressure clinics. She received many awards, among them the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Fran joined the Waterville and Fairfield Bridge Clubs and became an avid and formidable player, winning a few championships for fun. Continuing to learn constantly, she was unrelenting in her grasp for knowledge. She was also an ardent believer in living healthy with exercise and a proper diet. Fran continued to share her nursing and hospital management knowledge, consulting at Kennebec Valley Technical College and Penn Bay Medical Center.
Fran was blessed with a keen eye for style which she claimed was from her mother’s influence as a buyer for high-end stores wherein she traveled frequently to Boston and New York. Fran was a “classy dame” with confidence and a sense of fearlessness about her. She loved the Coast of Maine, any beach she could lay on, and lobster of any kind. Her biggest enjoyments were watching and talking sports, especially basketball, football and tennis; and her trips to Hawaii, Las Vegas and Walt Disney World, which she enjoyed with her family and friends.
Fran is survived by her daughters Deborah Benton of Nevada and Jane Roy of New York, N.Y.; granddaughter Joy Beckerman of Seattle, Wash.; two great-grandsons, Phoenix and Spiral Horn, both of Seattle, Wash. and niece Janis Pollitt of Virginia; as well as her close friends Joyce Petrosky and Brenda Combellack.
Fran lived a long and fulfilling life, leaving behind many old friends with whom she remained in contact and new friends she met along the way in her busy life. She especially enjoyed her nursing school classmates with whom she kept in contact as often as possible along with those who called to check on her. She had fond memories of all the “hospital family” with whom she worked, especially Rose Caporale and Norma Nivison.
Fran was predeceased by her parents and by her beloved brother Andrew “Red” Rafferty. She missed her brother terribly but is now reunited with him.
In keeping with Fran’s wishes, no services will be held.
Those who wish to may donate to the
Muskie Community Center
at: Spectrum Generations
Muskie Community Center
PO Box 2074
Waterville, ME, 04901 or by calling (207) 873-4745.
Checks should be made payable to “Spectrum Generations” with “Donation to Muskie Community Center” in the check memo
Copy the Story LinkComments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.