Fran Campbell

M. Frances Campbell

CAMPBELL, M. FRANCES 'FRAN', 93, of Walcott Street, died Saturday at Memorial Hospital. She was the wife of the late Vincent J. Campbell, Sr.

Born in Pawtucket, she was a daughter of the late John F. Sr. and Mary Agnes (King) Sherlock and was a lifelong resident of the city. She was educated at Sacred Heart Grammar and High Schools in Pawtucket and graduated from Rhode Island College of Education in 1935. She began her 40 year teaching career at Oakland Beach School in Warwick followed by periods at Samuel Slater Jr. High School, Pawtucket, John W. Horton School, and later at Parkview Jr. High School both in Cranston. She was a critic teacher for many years guiding numerous student teachers toward academic excellence. She was a Past President of the RI Retired Teachers and the Blackstone Valley Teachers, Past Secretary & Treasurer of the RI Social Studies Association, a member of the Central Retired Teachers, A.F. of T. Retired Teachers, American Association of Teacher Educators, Delegate to the Annual Teacher Educators Convention for RI, a member of the Legislative Committee of the RI Teachers Association and the AARP Community Participation Person of the RI Teachers Association.

She was a Lecturer and Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Church, Pawtucket as well as Past President of its Senior Citizens Club and Past Vice President of its Woman's Club. She was Past President of Mercy Mount Mothers Club, Past President of Sacred Heart High School Alumni. She was Treasurer of Catholic Woman's Club of RI and former member of the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Raphael Academy and Recording Secretary and Treasurer.

Mrs. Campbell was a Charter member of Providence College Veridames, and member of the RI College Alumni Association. She was a Regent of the Pawtucket Circle of the Daughters of Isabella and Recording Secretary of the State Circle.

On the Community level, she began her service with the American Red Cross Motor Service from 1941-1945 as a driver. She was a member of the Memorial Hospital Guild, the Pawtucket Women's Club, the Pawtucket Public Library, Deborah Cook-Sayles since 1983 and served as a Chairperson and later a Vice Chairperson there, and was a member of the Visiting Nurses of Blackstone Valley. She was a 2003 inductee of the Pawtucket Hall of Fame.

She was great advocate for Elderly issues and rights and testified at the RI State House Hearing and Committees. She was appointed a Delegate to the US Representative Fernand St. Germain White House Conference in 1981. She was Past President of Pawtucket Senior Citizen's Council, a Board Member of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center, and an Advisory Board Member of the Home and Community Care Board of the Department of Elderly Affairs. She was Elected State Democratic Woman for District 62.

She is survived by two sons, Vincent J. Jr. and his wife Patricia Campbell of Rehoboth, MA, Kevin P. Campbell of Pawtucket; three sisters, Martina Higgins of Bristol, Angela Brousseau of South Kingstown, Helene A. Mainor of North Kingstown; three brothers, John F. Sherlock, Sr. of Pawtucket, Gerald F. Sherlock of Smithfield, Henry J. Sherlock of Providence; four grandchildren, Shawn C. and his wife Holly Campbell of Rumford, Todd R. Campbell of Pawtucket, Honey H. Campbell of Pawtucket, Roseanna C. and her husband Brian Cavanaugh of Franklin, MA, and one great-grandson, Connor J. Campbell of Rumford. She was the sister of the late Rep. Paul Sherlock and Edward 'Ted' Sherlock. She was the former mother-in-law of Jann Campbell of Arlington, VA.

A funeral will be held on Friday at 8:30 a.m. from the CHEETHAM MORTUARY INC., 1012 Newport Ave., Pawtucket with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 193 Walcott St., Pawtucket. Burial will be in Mt. St. Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Donations may be made to RI College Foundation, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Prov., RI 02980, in 'Fran's' memory.

Published in The Providence Journal on 10/30/2007.