Frances Mary Hall

Frances Mary Hall of Oreland passed away on Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017 surrounded by her family.  She was born on March 23, 1919 and was 97 years old.  She was the loving wife of the late Walter Hall.  Born in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late Philip and Mary (Affatica) Sodaro.   She was the loving mother to Regina M. (Thomas) Ward and the late Judith (Nelson) Schlegelmilch and loving grandmother to Michael and Marissa Ward, Jay (Katie) and Jeff (Jenny) Schlegelmilch, and David Tosta.  She is also survived by 4 great grandchildren.

Mrs. Hall had a passion for teaching.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree from New York University and her Master’s Degree from Columbia University Teachers’ College. During World War II, Mrs. Hall served her country as a naval architect instructor at Gibbs and Cox in Manhattan, NY.  After the war, she freelanced selling textile designs on Bleeker Street in Manhattan and eventually landed a job as an evening gown embroidery & beading designer. Returning to teaching, Mrs. Hall taught art in the public schools for over 35 years in Oceanside and West Hempstead School Districts in New York, and at Franconia School, Bridgeport High School, and Upper Merion Junior High.  She also worked as a professor at Penn State University, Brandywine Campus, training teachers in art education for 10 years.  After retiring in 1983, she volunteered as an art teacher for St Genevieve’s Catholic School in Flourtown for 5 years.

She enjoyed painting in oil and water colors, playing the piano, sewing, and gardening. Her artwork was exhibited regularly at Woodmere Art Museum.  She and her late husband, Walter, travelled the world in their retirement. Their favorite vacation destination was St. Thomas, Virgin Islands where they survived Hurricane Hugo in 1989. For part of Mrs. Hall’s childhood, her family lived in Palermo, Sicily in Italy.  She was proud of her Sicilian heritage and was a devoted Roman Catholic.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday 3/7 10:30am Holy Martyrs RC Church Oreland where friends may call 9:30am to 10:30am. Interment Hillside Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Penn Medicine Immunotherapy Research Fund: online or 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Phila., PA 19104