STAFFIERY, Frances M. (Hurley)- Of Chelsea, March 21st. Devoted wife of the late Anthony Staffiery. Beloved mother of Stephen Staffiery and his wife Janice of NH, Anthony Staffieri of NY, Dorothy "Chee-Chee" VonHandorf and her late husband Chelsea Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Joseph E. of Saugus, Janyce Misley and her husband Timothy of OR. Loving sister of the late Jack and Joseph Hurley. Cherished grandmother of Stephen, Christopher, Erin, Taylor and the late Lauren. Also lovingly survived by her great grandchildren, Jason, Alexander, Anthony, Joseph and Kailey as well as many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Funeral from the Smith Funeral Home, 125 Washington Avenue, CHELSEA on Monday, March 29 at 8 AM followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated in Our Lady of Grace Church, 59 Nichols Street, Chelsea at 9 o'clock. Visiting Hours in the Smith Funeral Home on Sunday from 2-6 PM Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Expressions of sympathy in Fran's name may be made to Franciscan Campaign 2010, St. Anthony Shrine, 100 Arch Street, Boston, MA 02110-1100 or to Elder Services, MGH, 55 Fruit Street 02114.
Born in Somerville at a long time Chelsea resident, Frances passed away at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston at the age of 86.
A lifelong civil servant for the Federal, State and City Governments, Fran was an unsuccessful and historic candidate for Governor's Counsel from Suffolk County, was appointed the first woman to head a housing authority in the history of the Commonwealth, a position she held with distinction for over a decade. Was a prime mover behind the first full renovation of all of the housing projects in Chelsea since they were first built- a multi-million dollar project for deserving working class families. Was an early champion for public housing for the elderly in the Commonwealth. Secured all of the funding for all of the housing for the elderly units in Chelsea which still stand and provide housing for hundreds of elderly- and were among the first such units in the country. Was a key re-locator of families in Boston when the Christian Science Mother Church expanded- dislocating hundreds of families.