We are deeply saddened to announce the sudden passing of Frances C. Link, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, on August 20, 2023 at the age of 79. Fran lived a fulfilling and generous life, completely dedicated to her family and loved ones. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Gene; her three children Cindi, Brian, and David; her grandchildren, Caden, Emerson, Chelsea, Andrew, and Adam; daughter-in-law Marcy (David), son-in-law Tom (Cindi); sister, Patricia Fricke and many nieces and nephews. Fran was predeceased by her parents, Katherine and Joseph Bialas, and her brother, John Bialas.

Fran devoted her life to family and friends and did so with love and joy, never out of a sense of obligation. She left a lasting imprint on everyone she interacted with. She made every house she lived in feel like a second home to everyone, always providing a welcoming and safe place to stay. She exhibited a quiet confidence, always put others first, and constantly lent an intelligent, helping hand. She was deeply loyal, and unconditionally supportive. She had a knack for knowing the right thing, and gently helped guide us all when a decision had to be made.

Fran was the heart of the family and was a daily presence in the life of her husband, children, and grandchildren. She attended every one of her kids’ and grandkids’ activities, and spent thousands of hours at baseball fields, basketball courts, lacrosse games, volleyball tournaments, dance recitals, and school functions as the family’s biggest supporter and cheerleader.

We never knew when she would show up on our doorstep with fresh baked muffins because she “happened to be in the neighborhood”. She was an amazing cook who hosted countless family meals and most holidays. She “threw together” feasts that rivaled any restaurant without breaking a sweat. We all knew she was only a phone call away and loved to keep in contact via text and was a superb user of emojis that always brought a smile to your face.

Fran was a life-long learner who had a wide array of interests. She was known for her love of Broadway plays, Neil Diamond, Thomas Jefferson, and British mystery shows. She was a master at crossword puzzles and Jeopardy, and loved playing Wordle and Words with Friends. She was a phenomenal planner and incredibly organized. She was an avid gardener and cultivated the most beautiful flower gardens. She gave the best, most thoughtful gifts.

She held the title “Keeper of Family Memories” through her love of genealogy, photography, and scrapbooking. She spent countless hours in libraries and online researching our family history and collecting documentation. Never content with just connecting with newly found relatives online, she took several trips to Poland and literally knocked on doors to discover and create new family ties. and stayed in touch via letters and Facebook. Her incredible hand-made scrapbooks will be treasured by us, as well as future generations.

A major passion in Fran’s life was travel. She met her husband Gene while working a second job to save up for a trip to Europe in her early 20’s. She dedicated her career to travel and went back to school to become a Travel Agent, working for AAA for many years creating countless “trip tiks”. She then went on to plan and lead bus trips all over the country, instilling a love for travel in all¬ who had the privilege of accompanying her.

She was a master vacation-planner who attended to every detail. She knew the value of the journey, not just the destination, and was always up for any adventure - be it a day trip, a weekend away, or international excursion. Although not her favorite, she tolerated her beach-loving family, as long as there was wine! But out of all the places she visited, her heart belonged to the mountains.

She encouraged her kids to study abroad while in college, and took the opportunity with family to visit Australia and Europe while they were there. She traveled with her girlfriends – visiting presidential libraries all over the country. Every fall she would hop in her car and drive out to PA and NJ to visit family and friends. There were countless trips to their timeshares at Disney World and in Mexico, and yearly couples vacations with their dear friends of almost 50 years. In all, she visited 21 countries, many islands, and most of the United States.

Fran was a big supporter of the National Parks and visited many with her family. Yosemite and Rocky Mountain National Parks were among her favorites. At the time of her passing she was making final plans with Gene to visit Glacier National Park, one of the many places on her never-ending “bucket list” of destinations.

Fran will be remembered as someone who was always giving and never expecting anything in return. The joy within her created happiness in others. She proved that it was possible to be both kind and strong. She was our rock – her love, laughter, joy, and strength will be fiercely missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family is kindly asking for donations to be made to the National Park Foundation. Please visit https://everloved.com/life-of….

Our family is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this heart-breaking time.

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