Frances Toolin passed away peacefully at the age of 90, on May 15, 2021, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Frances was a lifelong resident of South Berkshire County, having been born to Peter and Pauline Skorput in West Stockbridge on December 15, 1930. As a member of the large “Skorput Clan,” Frances was raised with three sisters and five brothers. She attended schools in West Stockbridge and graduated from Williams High School in Stockbridge in 1948.
Upon graduating from high school, Frances was employed at Rising Paper Company, where she met Robert Toolin, an electrician. Frances and Robert were married on June 18, 1949 and they settled in at their home on North Plain Road in Housatonic, where they resided until Robert passed away in May of 1988. Frances and her younger sister, Dorothy Hotchkiss, then resided together at their home in Great Barrington.
Frances is survived by her daughter Noreen Solimine, and her sister Dorothy Hotchkiss, both of Great Barrington. In addition, Frances is survived by her granddaughter Brandyn Bailly and her great-granddaughter Olivia Bailly, both of Maine, and many nieces and nephews.
Primarily a homemaker for a number of years when Noreen was a child, Frances went on to enjoy a career in retail at the Jenifer House in Great Barrington. She loved clothes and always dressed stylishly and impeccably. Upon retirement, Frances and her sister managed the gift shop at Fairview Hospital for many years. Frances loved animals and enjoyed the wildlife around her home. She enjoyed vacations at the ocean with her husband and later with her sister.
All services will be private at Frances’s request. Condolences may be made through Birches-Roy Funeral Services, 33 South Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Memorial donations may be made to Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA.
