Obituary of Frances Baumgartner Stephens

In Middletown,CT,July,29,2011, Frances Baumgartner Stephens,89,of New Haven. Born Sept. 10,1921 in Brooklyn,NY a daughter of the late August and Sadie Bronski Baumgartner she was a graduate of the Washington Secretarial School in New York City. Frances served in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps(WAAC) from Feb. 1943 to Aug.1943. She went on to proudley serve in the Women's Army Corps (WACS) from Aug. 1943 until Oct. 1945. She held the rank of Sergeant and served in Manila and Luzon in The Philippines and in Buona,New Guinea. She earned two Bronze Service Stars as well as the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Philippines Liberation Ribbon and the CT Wartime Veteran's Service Medal. Frances was a patriot who truly loved her country. She was a member of the Annex Seniors where she served as treasurer for several years and was also a member of the East Shore Seniors. She loved dancing with her husband, playing cards and Bingo. She was predecesaed by her husband,the love of her life, Robert Stephens and her sister Elizabeth Gerwitz. Frances is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and Michael Ambrosio of Lynbrook,NY and Kathryn and Francis Hannafey of Wallingford, her three grandchildren, Daniel(Kelly)Ambrosio, Timothy(Nora)Ambrosio and Robert Hannafey and four great grandchildren, Christopher, Connor,Kelsey and Gianna Rae Ambrosio. The family would like to thank the staff of the Harbor at the Village at Mariners Point and Twin Maples Health Care Facility for the caring and compassionette care they gave Frances. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday morning at 9:00 in St. Bernadette Church, New Haven. Burial with military honors will follow in Calverton National Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) PO Box 1430,Cincinnati,Ohio, 45250-0301 Attn:Gift Processing or the Women in Military Service Memorial, Dept.560, Washington,DC, 20042-0560.Arrangements are with the Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven, CT 06512.