Obituary of Frances Naviasky Markowitz
WALLINGFORD - Mrs. Frances Shirley (Naviasky) Markowitz passed away Friday, May 25, 2018, at the age of 97 years. Loving wife of the late Herman Markowitz, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Fran was born to the late Morris and Mollie Naviasky, October 5, 1920 in New Haven, Connecticut. She graduated from Commercial High School in New Haven and became a bookkeeper. She grew up during the Great Depression, without many material things, but was happy surrounded by friends and family. She met the love of her life, Herman (Hy) Markowitz of Wallingford, in 1940; they eloped July 27, 1942 when he was on furlough from serving in the US Army during World War II. She followed her new husband to Michigan, Kansas, and Mississippi, and returned to New Haven when he was transferred overseas. Following the war, they moved to Wallingford, Herman’s hometown, and raised their two daughters, Maurie and Rhea-Beth. Fran also worked in the family store, Mark’s Children Center, and later in Herman’s real estate and insurance business. They began wintering in Delray Beach, Florida in 1979, where Fran enjoyed activities such as line dancing, bird watching, gardening, and trips to the local botanical gardens. Fran showed amazing strength when Herman passed away in 1987 and continued to travel, on her own, between Florida and Connecticut, until 2006. Fran was an active member of Beth Israel Synagogue and its Sisterhood in Wallingford, serving in many board positions and was an assistant Girl Scout leader. She lived her life with the belief that people should be kind, considerate, and respectful. She was a warm and quiet woman, read extensively, and was deeply committed to Judaism. She was most known for her passion for gardening; her yard was the prettiest around, and there were always fresh flowers from her garden in the house. She was well deserving of her nickname, “the Flower Lady.” Fran was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, Arthur and Gladys Naviasky of Bloomfield, CT and best friend Ida Lerner Schwartz of New Haven. She leaves behind daughters Maurie (David) Sachs of Natick, Massachusetts and Rhea-Beth of Augusta, Georgia; grandchildren Jeremy (Newton, MA) and Micah Sachs (Jean Capizzi) (Boston), Maple Dynan (New Orleans, LA) and Ben (Esty) Dynan (Pittsburgh, PA); great-grandchildren Meira Tovah Dynan and Simon Gabriel Sachs, nephews Larry (Barbara Pats) Naviasky (Albany, NY) and Bob (Sharon) Naviasky (Waterford, CT), and long-time friends and neighbors at Hallmark Hill in Wallingford.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 29 at 1:00 pm at the B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 South Elm Street, Wallingford, interment to follow at Beth Israel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Fran’s memory to Beth Israel Synagogue, P.O. Box 536, Wallingford, CT 06492. For directions, or to leave a message of remembrance, please visit www.BaileyCares.com.
