Frances K. Jaques - Obituary

rances Keeney Jaques, former editor and reporter at the Annapolis Capital newspaper, died peacefully at her Edgewater, MD, home on Nov. 26. She was 96. Born in Palmyra, PA, on Nov. 9, 1927, to Herman and Eva Keeney, Fran graduated from Palmyra High School in 1945 and Pennsylvania State University in 1949. While there, she served as an editor of the daily paper, The Collegian, was a member of Delta Gamma sorority and served as secretary of Mortar Board, the senior honor society. Following graduation, she worked for the Bradford Era newspaper in Bradford, PA, and then the Harrisburg, PA, Patriot News where she met her husband, Milton Jaques, also a reporter. They married in 1952, moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1954 and eventually to Edgewater where they raised three children. While raising her family, Fran took a break from journalism and became active in the community, serving on many Boards including the YWCA in Annapolis, where she was president in the late 1960s. A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis for 65 years, she served as a Deacon and was the first woman ordained as an Elder in that church. She was active in AAUW, a Girl Scout leader, and an avid birder, camper and hiker. She enjoyed golf, skiing and yoga. From 1977 to 2007 she worked at The Capital newspaper where she wrote the popular Home of the Week and Food columns, in addition to community news. She is survived by three children, Cynthia Strickland (John) of Pinehurst, NC, Suzanne Jaques of Edgewater, and Andrew Jaques (Susan) of Rockville, MD; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Milton Jaques, and her sister, Rita Keeney Weiler. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, 171 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. It will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S5BN_Uj3Ps. Memorial contributions may be made to the Endowment Fund of the First Presbyterian Church (online here) or a favorite charity in Fran’s name. Condolences may be offered using the Memories tab on this page.