Frances Betty Keller

Frances Betty Keller, Faigel Bracha Bas Zelda “v” Yosef died peacefully on January 6, 2025, embraced by her family.  Frances was born on February 15, 1931, in Chelsea, Massachusetts where she grew up surrounded by the love of her close-knit extended family. She was the eldest daughter of Jennie and Joseph Greenberg and sister to Shirley & Basil Scott and Esta & Steven Snider. Her childhood was filled with endless love and special memories, especially her summers in the country with her family. After attending college, Frances worked in the motion picture business and wrote about fashion and entertainment for the Jewish Advocate in Boston. She treasured her friendships, especially that of her best friend from college, Josie Paitchel. Her early adulthood was filled with theater, movies, dancing, fashion, and countless suitors – with her father and sister Esta always awaiting her return at their front door.

Over the July 4th weekend of 1959 Frances met the love of her life, Sidney Irwin Keller, on Nantucket Island. They were married just months later on November 15, 1959. Now a Keller, Frances’s family grew, gaining new parents, David & Lilly, as well as sister & brother-in-law, Rita and Larry Kargman, with whom they built a business and a close family life. Frances and Sidney were married for 61 years and their love, respect and devotion for each other only grew with each year.

Frances and Sidney had four children in five years – Jonathan (Dana), Susan (Moshe), Judith (Peter) and Nancy (Brett)– and settled in Manchester, Connecticut. Frances recreated the big loving family that she grew up with for her children, immersing them in her siblings’ and her cousins’ families. She had a tremendous love for all her cousins, nieces and nephews; with her nephew and godson William Snider holding a very special place in her heart. Frances also had wonderful relationships with the parents of each of her children’s spouses, sharing a particularly close relationship with Jean Meyer, who was like a sister to Frances.

Frances was dedicated to her family but always pursued her own interests and passions. In the 1970’s Frances obtained a degree in women’s studies from Goddard College and taught many classes and continued to empower women throughout her life. Frances was also an avid golfer, exerciser and bridge player, playing frequently with friends and family. She also reveled in her Judaism loving and prioritizing Jewish values and traditions.

Frances & Sidney were blessed with 17 grandchildren – Yael, Sara, Miriam, Dovid, Leah, Samara, Michal, Mendy, Yosef, Remony, Chana R, Lilly, Zelda, Chaim, Sasha, Yehuda & Chana M. Frances shared an unconditional love and interest for each one at every stage of their lives. Frances’s love and stories have been passed on to her 22 great-grandchildren, extending Frances’s umbrella of love over all of them. She always made all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren feel special and loved.

Everyone who knew Frances could see how loving, loved and lucky she was. Although Frances suffered from debilitating pain for the last year of her life, she never stopped expressing gratitude; saying “I have had the best life, I have loved every part of my life.”

Funeral Services for Frances are Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 2:00PM at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117 followed by burial in Beth El Temple Cemetery, 51 Jackson Street, Avon, CT 06001.  Shiva will be held at the home of her son Jonathan Keller on:

Thursday, January 9 from 3-7PM

Friday, January 10 from 12-2PM

Saturday, January 11 from 6:30-8:30PM

Sunday, January 12 from 3-7PM

Monday, January 13 from 3-7PM

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford at: www.jewishhartford.org or a charity of your choice.