Frances H. Stevenson Breakwell, age 93 of Sewickley, passed away Saturday, November 18, 2023 at her home. She was born October 31, 1930 in Washington, PA daughter of the late J. Andrew Stevenson and Helen Littrell Stevenson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Breakwell and sister, Roberta Novick.
Frances was a 1948 graduate of Uniontown High School and a graduate of Allegheny General Hospital School of Nursing with the class of 1951.
On September 19, 1951 Frances married Robert Breakwell (who passed away in 2016) and they enjoyed a loving marriage of 64 plus years. Frances worked as a nurse at Uniontown Hospital while Robert was serving overseas and stayed at home until all her children were in school. She then returned to nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, NY. She also volunteered with the Penfield NY Volunteer Ambulance Corps. and was a Girl Scout leader. The family moved to Chicago, IL in 1971 where she worked as a nurse at Holy Family Hospital and later became a school nurse for the Arlington Heights School District, while returning to school and earning her B.S. Degree in 1976. The family moved to Syracuse, NY in 1977 where she was a founding member and volunteer of Syracuse Hospice for eleven years. Frances and Robert moved back to Uniontown in 1992. Frances became a member of Grace Bible Class at Third Presbyterian Church where she enjoyed driving people to the store and to doctor’s appointments. In 2015 she and her husband moved to the Masonic Village at Sewickley. She was active in the retired nurses group and a treasured friend at the Masonic Village until the time of her death. Frances was an avid reader and enjoyed doing cross stitch, golfing, cross country skiing and hiking.
Left to cherish Frances’ memory are her children, Susan Breakwell (Mark), Linda Vanos (Steve), and Jim Breakwell (Shelley); brother, John Stevenson (Carol); grandchildren, Amie White (David), Alex Vanos (Casey), Ben Vanos (Hannah) and Jelina Lau-Lopez (Peter) and nine great grandchildren.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, INC., 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA where the family will receive family and friends on Wednesday, November 29th from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. followed by a service celebrating Frances’ life at 12:00 PM with Pastor Patrick Ewing officiating. Interment will follow in Howe’s Cemetery, Ronco, PA.
In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Frances can be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children through the website at lovetotherescue.org or mailed to Shriners Children’s Processing Center, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394.
Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at adferguson.com.
