Frances (Edelson) Kaufman, formerly of West Hartford and Bloomfield, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 29 in Bethesda, Maryland days after celebrating her 91st birthday alongside her adoring family.
Having lost her own parents as a teen, Frances was raised in part by her sister and brother-in-law, the late Edith (Edelson) Barker and the late Joseph Barker of Meriden. After graduating from Meriden High School in 1951, Frances received her degree in Pharmacy from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1956. Professionally, her 50 plus year career stood out in the then male-dominated field.
Frances found true love in her marriage to the late Howard J. Kaufman (1925-1981) of Hartford, with whom she had a beloved son, Michael Lee Kaufman, now of Bethesda, Maryland.
Frances was an avid skier, horseback rider and swimmer in her youth, and a gardener and lover of plants throughout her life. She relished sustaining her family at various gatherings over numerous decades with her famous (“Fran-tastic”) brownies. Frances was also an accomplished artist, whose paintings were once an annual staple of the Wintonbury Art League and various West Hartford Senior Center exhibits. Before moving to Maryland in 2016, Frances was an active member of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford. She also took great pride in being a Life Member of Hadassah.
In addition to her son Michael and treasured daughter-in-law Alexa (Graf) Kaufman, Frances is survived by her two cherished grandsons, Jonah Howard Kaufman and Jordan Paul Kaufman. She is predeceased by her sisters Edith (Edelson) Barker and Miriam Edelson, and her brother Joseph “Josh” Edelson.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, November 3 at 11:00am at the Jonathan Welfare Society Cemetery, 401 Tower Avenue, Hartford, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of a contribution to The American Heart Association in her memory. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Frances, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.
