Mrs. Frances K. “Fran” (Kauffman) Fitz-Kennedy, 97, of Waynesboro, PA, passed away Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Chambers Pointe, Chambersburg, PA.
Born June 2, 1928, in Newark Delaware, she was the daughter of the late John and Frances (Diess) Kauffman.
She lived her early life in Washington DC, graduating from Eastern High School in DC, with the class of 1946, and in 1949, she graduated as an RN from Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia.
She married John Franklin Fitz on January 6, 1950. Mr. Fitz died August 16, 1998. She married Charles Kennedy on April 23, 2004. Mr. Kennedy passed away in 2015.
She was employed as a Registered Nurse in the VA Hospital in Washington DC and Michigan. She also worked as an RN at DC General Hospital and at Prince George’s County Hospital. She taught practical nurses at Prince George’s Hospital and then worked as a Pediatric Nurse in Dr. Offices in Prince George’s County and Hagerstown, MD.
She taught Quilting at Traditions at the White Swan, Hagerstown. She was self-employed in Quilt Conservation and specialized in the restoration of antique quilts. She was also a curator of antique quilts with displays at Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown, VA and Quilt Odyssey in Gettysburg and Hershey, PA.
She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Myersville, MD and attended the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waynesboro.
She is survived by two children: her daughter, Deborah L. Maguire and her son, John L. Fitz; three stepchildren: Charles M. Kennedy, Dr. Jay P. Kennedy and Edward W. Kennedy; two grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; one great-grandson; one step great-granddaughter and her beloved cats, Willie and Tippy.
In addition to her parents, and her husbands, she was preceded in death by her son, James A. Fitz, who passed away in 1981 and her sister, Augusta Crammer.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m., on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad St. Waynesboro, PA, with Chaplain Brenda Doyle officiating.
Burial will follow in Mount Zion Cemetery, Quincy Township, PA.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the funeral home.
Another Celebration of Life service for Fran will take place at a future date and place to be announced.
Memorial contributions may be made to Antietam Humane Society: 8513 Lyons Rd. Waynesboro, PA 17268 or to the American Quilt Study Group online here.
Online condolences may be expressed at the funeral home’s website.
