Frances (Fran) Grayson Plewak (77) of Warren, VT passed away peacefully, December 31, 2025. Fran was born in Elizabeth, NJ, and grew up in Cranford, NJ. Her parents, Stanley and Doris Grayson, met teaching in Clayton, NJ. Stanley played football for Pop Warner at Temple University and played in the first Sugar Bowl. He was a coach and avid football fan. (For some reason, Fran had little interest in football.)
Fran leaves Gary, her husband of 54 years; their son Toby and his wife Andrea (sons Stanley and Edward); their son Benjamin (son Griffin); her brother Daniel Grayson and his wife Sara (son Ian and wife Jessica); her sister Rev. Elizabeth Grayson Alexander (son Scott and daughter Dawn); Gary’s brother Jack and his wife Cathy (son Daniel and wife Jennifer (Tim, Grace, Jermiah, Steven, Issac, Autumn and Joshua); daughter Rachael and husband Benjamin Viens (Magdeline, Eva, Gerizim, Raphael and Victoria); Gary’s sister, Lynn and her husband David Wawrzynek; daughter Julie and husband Jay Siemion (Silvie and Wren); daughter Abbey and husband Richard
Fecher (Richie and Allison).
Fran earned an undergraduate degree from the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising and the University of Connecticut where she studied Geriatric Recreation. She later received a master’s in Gerontology from the College of New Rochelle where she focused on death and dying. She was also a computer programmer and worked at AT&T Treasury where she met Gary then an IBM salesperson on the account.
Fran and Gary eloped in New York City in 1971. They lived in Westchester County, NY, and in Fairfield, CT, for 30-plus years. Fran learned to ski and eventually she and Gary bought a ski house at Mad River Glen – 1980, then in Warren, VT, in the early 1998.
What Fran accomplished in retirement can be best described in an article written by Cherri Sherman, No Such Thing as Retirement (Valley Reporter, 9/23/24) which informs the following list of accomplishments:
Her legacy of volunteering is legend. She volunteered for the Mad River Seniors in various capacities for 10 years. She also offered her time as a trained hospice volunteer sharing her special skills with patients and families. She served on the Hannah’s House Board and as a reading mentor at Waitsfield Elementary School.
Fran was also a member of the Mountain Gardeners where she served as president. In answer to a request from the Council on Aging (Arthritis Foundation), Fran along with her friend Judy Reed trained and ran/run a weekly free exercise class stressing mobility, strength and balance in both Warren and Waitsfield.
She was also a circulation volunteer at the Warren Public Library and ran a small book club. She spent many hours checking up on friends, taking people to doctor’s appointments and giving comfort to neighbors who needed help from a friend. In addition, Fran was a beloved Deacon at the Warren United Church. She inspired many and will be missed by all.
A memorial service will be held at the Warren United Church, 339 Main Street, Warren, VT on January 21, 2026, at 2 p.m. followed by a reception (4 p.m. at The Inn at Round Barn Farm, 1661 E. Warren Road, Waitsfield, VT.05673.
Contributions in Fran’s memory may be made to Hannah’s House, Inc. PO Box 217, Waitsfield, VT 05673; 802-496-9715.
