Frances Kaminsky

Frances Kaminsky, of Endwell NY was reunited with her husband, John, on December 8, 2025, at the age of 101. She left a legacy of love, friendship, and dedication to family.
Born in the Bronx, to Italian immigrant parents on March 1, 1924. She graduated from Walton High School, a public school with over 4,000 girls, with a Commercial Course of Study. This prepared her for a career as a Secretary at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals and later at the US Navy during World War II.
Frances married John Kaminsky in 1945 (a friend of her brother, Vito). They made their home in Johnson City, NY, where they had three children, Roseanne, Elaine, and Johnny. She left the work force to be a mother, wife, consummate volunteer, and community advocate. In 1956, they started to build their own home in Endwell. It took them 3 years with the help of their young children. Frances adjusted architectural plans that she ordered from a magazine and off they went. She wielded a hammer, wired the electrical, and could be seen installing roofing shingles. In 1959, along with her daughter, Elaine, took ham radio classes at IBM, and was given the call letters WA2NQA. Her General class license is still active.
As an avid volunteer, Frances focused on children and community. As President of the Endwell Youth Organization, she implemented the “Friday night dances” at Hooper School, for middle school children. In addition, she was a long-time member of the Town of Union Parks Commission, a 52-year member of Endwell League of Community Action, and a volunteer with the Endwell Senior Center, where she helped serve meals. Also, as a community activist for taxpayers, Frances led a successful protest in 1989 to reverse a major tax increase, and was honored as “1990 Broome County Citizen of the Year.”
She could be found camping at State Park with son John and a group of his friends. She was their Camp mother and helped the boys pitch the tents and made their meals on a camp fire. The boys were responsible for gathering fire wood before they went swimming. During this memorable experience, she started to refer to them as “My Endwell Boys”
In 1996, she lost the love of her life of 51 years, John, to a Heart Attack. The following year her son, John Jr. was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. Not being a person who stayed knocked down by life, she felt that traveling would aid in her recovery.
Frances started cruising and found traveling companions, Evelyn, in California and later Kornelia, in Australia. They would decide on a cruise and meet in a foreign country to start their adventure. She not only visited 5 continents, but went through the Panama Canal 3 times. She always made time to visit Elaine and Steve in California and her two grandchildren, Kira and Todd. She adored her great grandchildren, Callan, Aubrey, Nash, and Goldie. Her last flight to California was October 2024.
Travel did not stop there, as she was a Snow Bird and spent the winter in Davenport Florida, with Roseanne and Tom. This winter she was prepared to go on her annual trip but broke her hip in September and never recovered enough to go.
Frances, no stranger to technology, always had her Kindle with her. An avid reader, she was always reading and learning. She was on Facebook to keep up with her Italian family, nieces, nephews, and new foreign friends. She also could be seen checking her emails. Last year, she got an IPhone so that she could FaceTime with family and friends. This opened up a new dimension of communication which she likened to Dick Tracy’s watch.
While she was home, she was an avid gardener and had beautiful roses, hydrangea, and fruit trees. She often gave flowers and cuttings to her neighbors.
An additional passion of Frances was sewing. She made baby quilts as gifts for newborns of family and friends. Her quilts were sent across the US and as far as Italy and France. These are still treasured by many.
By far, the thing that Frances will be best known for is her sage advice and counsel, whether it be matters of the heart or her financial wisdom. She always had just the right words of comfort or the financial knowledge to help family and friends. She was a role model for many.
At 101, she was very healthy, but did wear hearing aids. She would make everyone laugh when she remarked, Wait let me put on my “Hearings” She was also plagued by allergies her entire life. She often complained, “I can barely keep my eyes open.” Her family got so used to it that when she phoned, they would say, “Are your eyes open?” She always had a positive attitude and said the secret to her long life was “You’ve Got to Keep Moving” and have a “Glass of Wine” which she enjoyed every night.
Frances left this earth to be reunited with her husband, John. Her last words were “Jesus Take Me Home” “John Take Me Home”
Private Services were held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations to the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.