Frances Branigan, 91, a long time resident of Lincoln passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 6th at St. Elizabeth Home in East Greenwich, RI after a brief illness and complications of COPD.  Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada she was the daughter of the late Mary Moline Watrick and William Watrick of Winnipeg.

As a girl, Frances enjoyed canoeing at the Winnipeg Canoe Club as well as speed skating outdoors.  She married her childhood sweetheart, Andy Branigan on June 29, 1945  They enjoyed a life traveling during Andy’s professional hockey career, part of which was as a defenseman for the RI Reds, the 1956 Calder Cup winning team.

Her first and only job was in the catalog department at Sears and Roebuck.  She rose from order clerk to manager of the department over the course of her 30 year career.  After retirement, she enjoyed visiting with great grandchildren in Maine and Massachusetts, as well as her much-loved niece,Mary Anne Theberge and husband Ti-Lou in Arizona.

She was pre-deceased by her husband, Andy. She leaves her daughter Barbara Branigan Smith and her partner Elaine Mondillo of Coventry RI and her son Andrew Michael Branigan and his wife Ann Marie of New Glocester, ME.  She also leaves her grandchildren Scott Branigan Smith and his wife Erin Garvey Smith of North Attleboro, MA, Meghan Branigan Dunn and her husband Josh Dunn of Turner, ME, Emily Branigan Landry and her husband Eric Landry of New Glocester, ME.  She also leaves six great grandchildren and is survived by her beloved  dog, Andy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday at 10:00 am at St. Jude Catholic Church, 301 Front St., Lincoln, RI where Frances was a communicant since 1956.  Arrangements are through Lincoln Funeral Home on Lonsdale Avenue.  At her request calling hours and flowers are respectfully omitted.

Donations in Frances’ Memory to ASPCA PO Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090-6929 would be appreciated.

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Lincoln Funeral Home
1501 Lonsdale Avenue
Lincoln, RI 02865
401-726-4117

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