Frances Ann Becker

April 26, 1924 - February 03, 2007

NEW BEDFORD - Frances Ann (Gardner) Becker, 82, of New Bedford, MA, died Saturday, February 3, 2007, at St. Luke’s Hospital with loving family beside her. Born April 25, 1924, in Nantucket, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Anna G. and Frank B. Gardner.

Mrs. Becker grew up on Nantucket Island and was very proud of her heritage as a twelfth-generation Islander. She also spent time living in Lewiston, Maine, in her youth and Newport, RI, where her oldest daughter was born. In later years, she left Nantucket due to illness and lived in Acushnet, until moving to New Bedford last year.

She belonged to the Elim Baptist and Dartmouth Baptist Churches and was a member of the Christian Women’s Club and (SWAT) Single Women Alone Together. She was very creative and loved to knit sweaters and afghans for her family. She also loved to paint and do beautiful artwork with shells she collected on the beach. She was an avid gardener and kept lovely roses and flower gardens at her Nantucket home as well as a greenhouse of house plants. During summers she enjoyed hosting cookouts for family and friends and boating to nearby Tuckernuck Island.

She leaves two daughters, Frances Ann Winters of E. Douglas, MA, Kathryn Becker of Ashby, MA; a son, John Higginbothan of Euclid, OH; a sister, Lucy E. Murray of Naples, FL; a brother, Charles J. Gardner of Nantucket, MA; five grandchildren, David A. Garnett , Jr., Jacqueline A. Go, Daniel Higginbothan, Ryan Higginbothan and Hannah Higginbothan; and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a cousin and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Information

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at 7:00PM, at the DONAGHY-HATHAWAY FUNERAL HOME, 465 County St., New Bedford. To LIGHT A CANDLE, SIGN THE MEMORIAL REGISTER, or obtain FACILITY DIRECTIONS, go to www.hathawayfunerals.com. or please telephone 508/992-5486.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Chaplain Service, P.O. Box 117, Foxboro, MA 02035.