Obituary of Frances Ann Decker

Frances Ann "Franny" Decker age 84 of Big Flats, NY passed away on Friday August 16, 2024 at Elcor Nursing Home. Franny was born August 22, 1939 in Elmira, NY the daughter of the late Charles and Mabel Baker Comereski. She was a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Elmira, NY. Franny went to work for Dr. Harry Garbett who was a dentist in Elmira. He had trained her to be his dental assistant/office manager. Dr. Garbett and his wife Susan really loved Franny. A patient of Dr. Garbett and a friend of mine had been after me to meet this nice young lady at the dentist's office . He had been telling her all about me. I finally called her to talk with her. We set up a time for me to come to her house and meet her. She gave me a time (one month later) which was okay with me. I met her at her house on a Wednesday evening and was introduced to her parents. I felt very comfortable sitting there and visiting with all three of them. Naturally they were interested in me and I told them all about me and my parents. When I left that evening, we made a date for the following weekend. That was a good sign for me. Franny and her parents were happy. We dated steadily and became more convinced that we were going to be together. I converted to the Catholic faith because I wanted to be going to the same church as Franny. Franny and I were married on August 26, 1967 at St. Peter & Paul's Church in Elmira, NY. We lived in an apartment in Elmira for three years and then moved to Big Flats in 1970 and bought the house three years later. Franny had remained working with Dr. Garbett for 36 years. He finally had to retire due to difficulty with his legs and Franny had to close down his practice. Dr. Garbett's wife had passed away and we continued to look in on him at his home until he passed away. Franny was home two days after leaving the dental office and she got a call from the Town Assesor in Big Flats. Carolyn was the assessor and a patient at the dental office and wanted Franny to come in and fill in for her assistant who turned out to be a distant cousin of mine that was going to be out of work for about two weeks. I said no but Franny said yes and that turned into twenty years. She loved her work. She worked with Carolyn and then after that with Carolyn' s successor. Franny retired from there in October 2015 . She made that decision on our way to Maine for our vacation where we had been going for 33 years. Franny suffered a stroke in Maine and I took her to York Hospital in York, Maine. Everyone was so very nice there. I decided then after her stroke and still in Maine that I was going to retire from my practice as a Licensed Land Surveyor and become a full-time caregiver to Franny . I needed to do that for "The Love of My Life". We did get back to Maine in October of 2016 for the last time and then my Mother passed on January 31, 2017. We attempted to go to Maine from 2017 to 2021 but had to cancel at the last moment. Franny was not up to making the trip. We made many friends there at Sparhawk Oceanfront Resort in Ogunquit, Maine. One set of friends , Tom and Ellie Kie from East Glastonbury, CT were very close to us. When Franny was in the hospital In Maine , Ellie had called her for the next six months daily while we were home and check on her. They were and are truly friends. Ellie was truly a very nice lady. I called her "The Organizer". She was always planning things we would do in Maine. Ellie had a way of interacting with large groups of people. She still calls to see how Franny is doing, but not talking with her because Franny was sleeping. Franny fell and fractured her left leg and was sent to the hospital and then complications occurred. She was back and forth between Arnot Ogden Hospital and Elcor Nursing Home. Hospice came to Elcor to help Franny there and she passed away on Friday August 16, 2024. Franny was pre-deceased by her parents , her sister Marie Trible, and aunts and uncles Larry and Josephine Comereski, Francis and Kay Comereski , Russell and Louise Comereski , and Burt and Jerry Baker. Franny is survived by her loving and devoted husband Kenneth of 56 years ; nieces and nephews Mike Trible, Linda Trible, and Paul and Debbie Trible; cousins : Larry and Peg Comereski , John and Betsy Comereski, Patricia (Mrs. Edward) Baker, and Bobby Williams; Kenneth's cousins: Jim and Cindy Denkenberger , Ron Sherman , Mark and Kathy Denkenberger, Steve and Amy Denkenberger and their families; several caring friends and neighbors . Relatives and friends are invited to call at the LYNCH FUNERAL HOME 318 WEST BROAD STREET HORSEHEADS, NY on Thursday August 22, 2024 from 4 to 7 PM. Franny's Funeral Services will be held at the conclusion of Calling Hours. Franny will be laid to rest next to her parents in St. Peter & Paul's Cemetery in Elmira, NY. Words of Condolence and Memories may be shared at www.lynchsfuneralhome.com .