Francis John Varley passed away with his family at his side on October 6, 2019, exactly 57 years to the day from when he met his wife Maureen.
Frank was born on June 18, 1940 in the Bronx. He grew up on Rhinelander Ave. and attended Cardinal Hayes High School. After high school, he served in the US Army and was stationed in Germany. Following service, he took a job at Con Edison in Manhattan where he worked diligently and shot the occasional game of pool at lunch for 37 years.
In 1965, he married Maureen Maher with whom he raised six children during their 54 year marriage. He was a dedicated family man who worked hard and played hard during a retirement that lasted almost 25 years.
Frank was raised in the city but was a country boy at heart, moving north from the Bronx until finally settling in Montgomery, NY in 1984. He was a quietly generous man with a dry wit that stayed sharp until his final days. Frank enjoyed doting on his six children and seven grandchildren — known as Poppy to the latter lot — as much as he did busting their chops. He loved a warm fire, cheap whiskey, babies, the Everly Brothers, a good joke, Entenmann’s Crumbcake (much to the chagrin of his family) and betting on just about anything. Most of all, he loved to be with his family. As he once said to his eldest son, Brian: “Without family, you’re nothing.” By this measure and many others, Frank certainly was something.
Survivors include his wife Maureen, sons Brian Varley and wife Jeanne and Kevin Varley & wife Kathleen; daughters Elizabeth Elser and husband Robert , Coleen Bahrs and husband John and Jeanne Varley and husband Paul; seven grandchildren: Jamison, Gabrielle, Thomas, Michael, Sophia, Fiona & Seamus; brother John Hickey & wife Helen.
He was predeceased by his son Matthew Varley and his brother Edward.
A Mass of Christian burial was held Friday, October 11, at Holy Name of Mary Church, Montgomery. Burial was in St. Columba in Chester.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 30 Glenn Street, Suite 409, White Plains, NY 10603. jdrf.org
Arrangements were made by Millspaugh Funeral Directors.