Frances H. Funke (nee Grote) of Riverside passed away on February 1, 2024. She was 77 years old.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on October 26, 1946 to the late Wilhelm and Helen Grote (nee Philiposki). Frances is survived by her beloved husband of 56 years, Rudolph Funke, loving sons, Rudolph Funke and William Funke (wife, Deirdre) and cherished grandchildren, Ava, Kayleigh, Liam and Courtney Funke. Frances suffered from Type 2 diabetes and for several years fought the adverse effects of this disease including over a year of dialysis treatment assisted by her husband who she met when only a teenager.
Frances was a very driven person having grown up in a 2 room (that’s 2 rooms total, not 2 bedrooms) apartment where money always seemed tight so early on she decided to become financially independent by majoring in accounting at Pace College. Doing so she was a trailblazer as there were few women majoring in accounting at that time and graduated with honors in only 4-1/2 years while going to night school and working full time days as she had to earn enough money to pay her own tuition. Her grades were so good that on graduation she obtained a job at one of the then Big 8 accounting firms, Arthur Anderson, where again she was one of the few women employed. After that she worked for a number of fortune 500 companies before responding to a higher calling, motherhood!
To honor her life, family and friends will gather on Sunday from 3:00-7:00 pm at the Coxe & Graziano Funeral Home, 134 Hamilton Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10am Monday at St. Catherine of Siena R.C. Church in Riverside, CT, followed by interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Greenwich, CT. For more information or to place an online condolence; www.coxeandgraziano.com