Frances Swalley passed away February 22, 2026 after courageously battling Pancreatic cancer. Fran passed away at her sisters home surrounded by her children, Damon and Dana, and sister Toni.
Born October 1946 in Brooklyn, New York to Frank and Doris Maviglia, the daughter of a submarine officer, Fran moved quite often in her young life, living in places like Hawaii, California, Key West, New York, and Connecticut, where they settled the longest.
During their childhood in Connecticut, Fran, with her sister, enjoyed ice-skating on Hagen’s pond, riding their bikes throughout Ledyard, playing baseball on the hill with their friends and then in later years, attending football and basketball games as well as dances at NFA. They remained devoted sisters.
Throughout this time, their Mom endured the task of raising them together during their father‘s absence. When Frank was at home with the family, he focused on teaching the girls things like car maintenance, plumbing, and electrical work, necessities in life.
Fran was a graduate of Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, Connecticut. She continued her education in Hartford, Connecticut pursuing the advancing field of Business Computers where she graduated top of her class. After graduation, Fran took a position at Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford. She was later offered a position with the Federal Government in Groton, Connecticut. From Connecticut, Fran’s career took her to St. Louis where she settled in Illinois, starting her family and raising her children, Damon and Dana. A Command relocation lead Fran to Huntsville, Alabama where she concluded her successful 35 year career which encompassed numerous promotions and designations leading up to her final position as Maintenance Program Specialist.
Throughout her personal and professional life, Fran cultivated relationships that lasted her lifetime.
In her free time, Fran enjoyed visiting family, a phone call with a friend, sewing, needle work, antiquing, gardening, cooking, playing Township on her iPad or just sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of International Coffee, taking in an old black-and-white movie or a rerun of Murder She Wrote. In addition, Fran adored her beloved Maltese dogs, Makin and CiCi.
Fran is preceded in death by her Dad and Mom, Frank and Doris Maviglia, her brother-in-law, Bob Hedrick and numerous close relatives.
In lieu of flowers Fran would be honored by a donation in her memory made to TGen (Translation Genomics Institute), Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research, Saint Jude‘s , or the ASPCA.
