Frances Lyon

Frances E. Lyon, age 85, of Wayne, passed Sunday, May 12, 2019.

Born to Francis and Marie Cort in Orange, New Jersey, she graduated from Our Lady of the Valley in South Orange.

Fran first met the love of her life at the Cricklewood Store, a soda shop across from Seton Hall, in South Orange. It was there, over coffee with a friend, that Owen Lyon introduced himself, and a six-decade long love story began. Owen, knowing instantly that this beautiful and sparkling young woman was the girl for him, took to accompanying Fran—as a self-appointed “chaperone”—on dates with other boys (occasionally even jumping into the car when her escort would pull up to the house). Fran’s father, after meeting Owen, called him “the worst guy she’d ever brought home” as he was “marriage material.” It turns out Mr. Cort was right, for Fran and Owen fell in love, and married on May 28, 1955 at Our Lady of Sorrows in South Orange.

Owen often says they were “well married”, as they had six priests on the alter and a Papal Blessing secured by the Passionist Brothers. They had a reception at The Condor in Livingston, and drove to honeymoon in Miami, Florida. Fran and Owen enjoyed a loving and caring marriage for sixty-four years, both here in Wayne, and their summer home in Long Beach Island.  

Fran was a loving wife and devoted mother, survived by her beloved husband Owen; daughter Karen, and husband John Holmes, of Roxbury; daughter Sharon, and husband Paul Giordano, of Lincoln Park; son Tom Lyon of Manhattan, NY; and pre-deceased by their infant daughter, Joanne. She leaves cherished grandchildren, John and Julie Holmes of Randolph; Justin and Alise Holmes of Roxbury; Jessica and Derek Fromm of Richland, PA; and Taylor and Michael Giordano of Wayne; as well as great-grandchildren Mila Rose Holmes, Jackson Holmes, Dylan Holmes, Colton Fromm, and Caleb Owen Fromm.

Any story of Fran would be incomplete without mentioning her beloved dog, Riley.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to VITAS Hospice Community Connection, PO Box 645352, Cincinnati, OH 45264, would be greatly appreciated.  To donate online click on this line and please indicate "New Jersey North" in the designation box.