Frances M. Hawk.

Fran started her work career as a single mother with a 2 year old son while also becoming the head of the household after the early death of her father. Fran worked two part time jobs while she attended Temple University night school until she graduated at the top of her class a few years later.

Upon graduating, Fran moved with her son to Harrisburg, PA to pursue a career with the State of PA. It was not easy at first, but while with the State, she attended night classes at a Wharton Business School extension program, offered through the State of PA., and she earned her M.B.A. two years later.

Fran remarried and again was disappointed by her decision but was also enjoying success in her career as she moved up the ladder at the State of PA Pension Management Department. In 1981, she received her first corporate job offer from Schering Plough Pharmaceuticals. She left her second husband and moved to New Jersey where she quickly rose through several promotions and within three years was recruited by United Technologies, a Fortune 100 conglomerate in Hartford, CT. who put her in charge of their pension management team.

While in Hartford, Fran met and married her third, last and best husband, Roger L. Hawk. Their years together were filled with adventure, travel, exploration and romance. He truly was the love of her life. And with her son attending (and graduating from) Boston University, Fran was happy that she had found her place in the world and was accomplishing the goals she had written for herself many years before.

Within four years with UTC, Fran had garnered national attention in the world of pension managment and financial planning. She was again recruited, in 1991, by HLM Investment Management in Boston to join them as a partner in their firm.

Fran became a mentor to her new hires, she spoke at conferences for professional women in finance and all the while remained true to her ideals of integrity, honesty and dedication. Her favorite book throughout her life was Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand... and if Ms. Rand had known Fran, she would have had to write another epic.

Fran often commented later in life that her greatest feeling of success was that her career had been dedicated to helping others plan for their future and achieve financial security. As a pension manager, Fran's investment goals had set, literally, thousands of workers with retirement plans and education plans for their children. As an investment manager, Fran was always very cautious, sometimes called the "naysayer" of the firm... but when she approved of an investment, she was always right and her decisions enabled hundreds of companies to prosper as a result of her careful consideration.

At the age of fifty, Fran retired with her husband and they moved from Boston to Downingtown, PA, where, over time, Fran met her new family. Everyone who knew her delighted in her sense of humor, her honesty and her thoughtfulness. She became a beacon of inspiration even to those who only met her in passing... and to those who she held dear... she will be missed terribly.

Fran battled a series of health problems for more than six years. On three separate occasions doctors had told her she would not live more than six months. However, with all the love and prayers sent her way, combined with her indominable spirit, she constantly amazed those same doctors when she got better. In February of 2007, however, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She fought it for a few months... but the angels recruited her too heavily and she finally decided to leave her body behind.

On July 4th, 2007, Fran declared her independence from medical treatment and decided to end her life gracefully and with dignity, before cancer could consume her. Her decision broke many hearts, but also gave her family a chance for a last visit, a weekend of watching old home movies and telling stories and laughing between the tears.

Fran did not want to see anyone sad. She kept her illnes hidden from most people. She even told her son he was not allowed to cry in front of her (except when he absolutely had to)... that his job was to entertain her, keep her smiling and laughing, and send her on her way with joy in their hearts and on their faces. She did not want a funeral... just a big party. And the best way to honor her will be with laughter on her behalf.