Frances Carlson
ONEONTA _ Frances Carlson, 88 years, 11 months old, passed away on June 12, 2012, at Bassett Hospital after a long battle with congestive heart failure.
Frances was born on June, 30, 1923, in Brooklyn, to Italian immigrant parents Rosario and Elvira Zumpano. Frances struggled as she went to school not knowing how to speak English. Growing up during the Great Depression she left high school to take on employment and support her family, after her father lost his shoe repair business on Wall Street. She joined the military as a Navy WAVE during World War II and was stationed in Washington, D.C., as a Yeoman. After being honorably discharged, she sought employment including work as a private detective, employment assistant and telephone operator.
In 1950, she married Frank Carlson in Brooklyn, and had one son. After living, working, and raising her family there, she followed her son, wife, and grandchildren to Oneonta. She enjoyed life in the country.
Fran was always politically active and aware, as a former member of the Brooklyn Democratic Club, and later on joining the Veterans Club in Oneonta for a short while. She enjoyed reading up on political news both local and national.
Frances loved to be with her grandchildren and doted on them. A very gregarious person, Frances made many friends in her new home and steadfastly maintained her independence until she was forced, after a stroke, to live in a nursing home.
Frances is survived by her son, Steven and daughter-in-law Jane Carlson of Oneonta; grandsons, Christopher Carlson of New York City, Steve Carlson of Long Island, and Matt Carlson of Oneonta. In Brooklyn, sister, Jo Resnek; sister-in-law, Ginger Zumpano; and two nieces, Janet and Barbara Zumpano; and nephew, Richard Zumpano.
