Frances Ann Fontana, 78, of Hyde Park, New York (formerly of Tucson, Arizona) passed peacefully away on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Circle of Friends Home in Kingston, New York, surrounded by members of her Hospice care team.

Frances was born on May 4, 1947, in Cold Spring, New York. She was the daughter of the late Charles Henry Johnson and Ruby (Opitz) Johnson.

Graduating in June of 1965 from Poughkeepsie High School, Fran went on to attend Broome County Community College, Binghamton, New York. She graduated in 1985 with Phi Beta Kappa Honors.

On September 4, 1965, Frances married her first husband Robert Francis Miller. She and Robert had one child, a daughter, Lisa Marie Miller, who survives her.

Frances married Leonard A. Fontana on December 21, 1975, in Binghamton, New York. They were married for 46 years until his death in 2021.

When Frances' husband Len retired from his teaching job they moved to Arizona so Len could play golf year-round. They spent 33 years in Arizona where Fran started her own business (AME) management until she retired in 2007.

Fran was an avid reader and loved to travel, attending plays and musicals with her husband. She even enjoyed watching Len play golf and going out to dinner with friends.

Frances is survived by her daughter Lisa and her two grandchildren Alicia and Jacob Osban, her sister Vivian (Johnson) Tucker, her adopted family Mallory, Brad and Scarlet Mayorns, many nieces and nephews as well as some dear friends from Arizona, Cyndi and Gary Struyk, Robyn Krause, Ginger McPartlin and Sharon Milton, her best friend of almost 60 years, Lari-Sue McDermott. Last, but not least, by her faithful companion and comfort dog Gracie Lulu who has given her many years of love and devotion.

Frances was a remarkably resilient woman. She survived breast cancer twice and lung cancer once, and she remained deeply committed to supporting the search for a cure.

Family and friends would like to thank Hospice for its unwavering care and devotion to Frances. In her memory, donations may be made to Hudson Valley Hospice, the Dutchess County Humane Society, the American Cancer Society, or Circle of Friends Home for the Dying, a nonprofit organization.