Francene Provost (Shaw), aged 60, died peacefully on August 25, 2024, at Fairview Commons after a brave struggle with multiple health issues. She was surrounded by the love and prayers of family, friends, and the wonderful caring staff at Fairview Commons.
Francene was born in Pittsfield on April 15, 1964. She served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1985 and enjoyed the time spent serving our country. Following her military time, she worked at Fairview Commons as a nursing assistant for 10 years. Her travels took her south to Florida for years, until her ill health brought her home to the Berkshires.
Francene is remembered for her great intellect, courage, honesty, and strong faith. She loved animals of all kinds (including her stuffies). She enjoyed music, word games, and Bingo. Franny made many friends along the way and was known to have a quick sarcastic wit and always said things the way she saw them.
Although she suffered through years of dialysis and eventual blindness, she faced each day bravely and tried to find joy in the little things. She continued to crochet and fully participate in activities at Fairview up until the day before her passing. She loved her dialysis family and was grateful for the care.
Francene was the youngest of eight children and enjoyed being spoiled as the family baby. She leaves behind a son, daughter, and two grandchildren, whom she loved with all her heart. She also leaves a brother, Gerald Papineau (Veronica), and her sisters, June Vincent, Susan Papineau Moody (Gerry), Debra Blackwell, and Bertha Connelley. She had many loving nieces and nephews and shared a special bond with her grandniece Kori Blackwell Little (Emil) and their beautiful children.
She is predeceased by her mother Louise DeFoe Johnson, her sister Maggie Candee, and her oldest brother Norman Papineau.
She has requested no calling hours, but instead a graveside service open to all at Elmwood Cemetery, located at 90 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington, on September 3, 2024, at 10 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Activities Department at Fairview Commons, 151 Christian Hill Rd., Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to her family, please visit the website of Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home.
