Frances P. Vereker

Waltham – Mrs. Frances P. (Skerritt) Vereker, of Waltham, died Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. She was 77.

Fran was born in County Clare, Ireland on May 3, 1935, the youngest of 16 children born to the late John and Mary (Reynolds) Skerritt. She came to the United States when she was twenty years old and a year later married Boston native Lawrence M. Vereker. In 1977 Fran realized her dream of becoming an American citizen.

Until her retirement Fran worked for the Jordan Marsh Company and before that worked for a number of years at Queen Cleaners on Moody Street in Waltham. She enjoyed playing the lottery from time to time and had been a resident of Maristhill Nursing Home in Waltham. The residents and staff there took to calling her the mayor of Marist's A floor and the director of their social activities.

The wife of the late Lawrence M. Vereker, she leaves her children, John J. Vereker of Tyngsboro, Larry C. Vereker and his wife, Irene, of Billerica, Fran A. Helms and her husband, Greg, of West Newton, Peter A. Vereker of Newton and Joseph T. Vereker of Waltham; her grandchildren, John Michael, Jaclyn, Bryan, Kellie, Shawn, Ashley and Joey Vereker and Gregory, Michael and AJ Helms; her great-grandchildren, Payton Vereker and Riley Cooke; her brother, Michael Skerritt of England; her cousin, Sr. Jane Vereker of Knock, Ireland and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Frances' life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, November 23rd, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Charles Borromeo Church, 51 Hall Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury.