Frances A. Sefranek

Frances Agatha (Velas) Sefranek, 98, was born in Bethlehem, PA on February 5, 1924. Frances passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 8, 2022.

She was predeceased by: Parents, Joseph J. Velas and Anna Mary (Mac) Velas; husband, John J. Sefranek; daughters Jane Stoltz and Helen Vella; brother Joseph Velas; and sisters Mary Kozo, Anna Krajci, Betty Amichetti, Helen Ilkew, and Josephine Zorn.

Left to cherish her memory: Son Thomas C. Sefranek and wife, Verna of Shirley, MA. Granddaughters: Cynthia Stone and fianc Keith Pierce of Shirley, MA; Christina Sefranek and husband Lee Su of Waltham, MA. Grandsons: Eric Stoltz (Andrea) of Phoenixville, PA, Jonathan Stoltz (Sarah) of St. Paul, MI, and Thomas Stoltz (Bethany) of Edwardsville, IL. Great grandchildren: Jessie Mae Pierce, Jacob Stone, Callie and Dylan Stoltz, and Goddaughter, Cathy Mulhollem. Several nieces and nephews, including George Sefranek and wife, Vicki, and cousins also will miss her - Brenda, Sister Roseann, Mark, Judy, and many others.

Frances was a longtime member of St. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Bethlehem (now known as Incarnation of Our Lord), and, after marriage, Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary (ABVM) Parish in Bethlehem (Colesville), PA.

Frances was above all, a woman of great faith, attending Mass daily and praying her Rosary. If she promised to pray for you, you knew it would be done. She was a true servant and helped in her parish, visited the sick in nursing homes and private homes. She loved helping in hospitality at ABVM and especially with the pre-school children at St. Michaels school. She also helped out at New Bethany Soup Kitchen when she could. She was known as “the walking lady” because up to age 85, she would walk, daily, to Mass at ABVM from her home and, once in a while shed walk to South Bethlehem all the way to 4th Street to her previous parish for Sokol, Slovak meetings, as she was a lifetime member. Frances loved to receive letters, especially from family, and never forgot a birthday or anniversary, almost always including $5 or $10 as a gift. She always wanted to give something in return for a favor done, cookies, candy, $1 or moreeven in the nursing home later, she would win candies and crackers at Bingo and save them to give to her visitors. Frances loved her family and friends and did her best to always keep in touch.

Frances was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend. She gave the best she could of herself and wanted always to be useful. She will be greatly missed but she so deserves her rest now, in the arms of her Lord Jesus and His Mother Mary, whom she strove all her life to serve and imitate.

A viewing will be held at Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem PA 18018 from 6-8pm on Monday, February 14, 2022. A viewing will also be held on Tuesday, February 15 from 9:45-10:30am at ABVM Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015 with remembrances from family until the start of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am. Interment will follow at Holy Savior Cemetery, Bethlehem.

Remembrances can be flowers sent to the funeral home, Mass Cards to the Sefranek Family, 568 Vera Circle, Bethlehem, PA 18017, or donations to Assumption BVM Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015.

ConnellFuneral.com

Cemetery
Holy Saviour Cemetery
2575 Linden Street
Bethlehem PA 18017
US

Viewing
Monday, February 14, 2022
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 E. Broad St.
Behtlehem PA 18018
US

Viewing
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
Assumption B.V.M.
4101 Old Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem PA 18015
US

Mass of Christian Burial
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
11:00 AM
Assumption B.V.M.
4101 Old Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem PA 18015
US

Graveside Service
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
12:30 PM
Holy Saviour Cemetery
2575 Linden Street
Bethlehem PA 18017
US

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531