Frances Anne O’Donnell Hughes
After a long and blessed life, Frances Anne O’Donnell Hughes died peacefully surrounded by family, love, and prayers. Frances was born at home in San Francisco on June 29, 1922 to Thomas (Co. Mayo) and Susan (Newman –Co. Cavan). She attended St. John’s Grammar School, Notre Dame High School, and Business College. Frances then worked as a secretary for American Hawaiian Steamship Company. While attending a Hibernian Dance in 1947, she met Frank Hughes, an Irish American from NYC newly discharged from the Army Air Corp. The two fell in love and married 11 months later. Frank and Frances initially made a home in San Francisco and, in December 1954, welcomed their daughter Kathy. In July 1955, they made the move to San Mateo, purchasing their forever home, and the next year their daughter Mary was born. Frances was involved in volunteer work as she raised their family, and they enjoyed a summer home in Felton and many memorable vacations throughout the US and Canada. Tragically Frank died suddenly in 1971 at age 49. Frances raised the girls with strength, faith, and humor. She returned to work and chose to retire early to resume her volunteer work, travel, and enjoy her grandchildren. Mom devoted countless hours of her time and talent to Mills Peninsula Hospital, St. Gregory Parish, St. Vincent DePaul, the Mercy Sisters, and many other organizations, and was honored in 2013 by President Obama with the President’s Call to Service Award for dedicating 4000+ hours of service to the community.
Frances was predeceased by her husband, Frank; daughter, Kathy; parents; brother, Thomas; and sister, Margaret. Mom leaves behind her daughter, Mary; son-in-law, Frank; grandchildren Robert (Christina) Mott, Danielle (Joel) Schmidt, Brendan, Claire, Annemarie, Aidan, and Katie Stone; great grandchildren Alexis Schmidt and Colton, Emma, and Wyatt Mott; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins in the US, Ireland, Canada, and England. Frances was a woman of great faith and a stalwart believer in family. She taught us to be agents of change for the poor and disadvantaged. She was a proud first generation Irish American, loving her heritage but also grateful for her citizenship.
The Rosary will be held on Wednesday, December 13th at St. Gregory Church, 2715 Hacienda St., San Mateo at 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 14th at St. Gregory Church at 11:00 am. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma. To honor her memory, consider a contribution to St. Gregory’s School or Mercy High School (Burlingame), be kind to a widow, or vote Democratic.