Born in Wagon Mound, New Mexico, on June 20, 1933, Frances was raised in Denver, Colorado by her parents Francisco P. Aguilar and Candelaria (Baca) Aguilar. Growing up, her nickname was "Pancha." She had two older half siblings, Margaret and Walter, and three younger full siblings, Helen, Juan Rafael "J.R.", and Samuel, who all pre-deceased her. Frances was proud of her Wagon Mound heritage and enjoyed finding out the details about her grandparents and other relatives on the family tree. Her paternal grandfather was Juan Rafael "J.R." Aguilar, who served as mayor and sheriff of Mora County, NM. Although she and her parents were native-Spanish speakers, one of Frances' college professors told her that the dialect they spoke was "medieval."
Frances valued a good education. After graduating from Manual Training High School in Denver, she earned a B.A. at the University of Denver in Denver, CO in 1955, an M.A. in Education at Chapman College in Orange, CA in 1976, an M.A. in Social Science (Psychology) at Azusa Pacific College in Azusa, CA in 1978, and a Doctoral degree in Education (EdD) from the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, CA in 1983.
She enlisted in the US Navy Reserves in March 1954, training in Rhode Island and later stationed in Little Rock, Virginia. She was commissioned in April 1956 as an Ensign in the US Navy. She was one of the first women officers to be stationed with Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet (PhibLant) in July of 1956. She was given top secret clearance to work with cryptographic information and served until September 1957. She liked to tell the story of how she went to see her first submarine and when she asked where it was, she was told, "You're standing on it, ma'am."
She met George H. Berry, Jr. on a blind date in Rhode Island in 1956. They were married on May 1, 1957 at St. Andrews Chapel at the Naval Academy in Anapolis, MD. Together they had four children, Paul, Eric, Steve, and Tim. While George continued to serve in the Navy, they moved all over, including Texas, California, Hawaii, Japan, Virginia, and finally back to California. (They divorced in 1976 and George passed away in 2013.)
Frances taught in the school system for over 25 years, at both the elementary level and in special education, and also as a community college professor. She also served as a school principal in California and once was a candidate for the school board. Some of her other jobs included library page, hospital clerk, counselor (certified to use hypnosis), and grand jury member. At one point, she held five jobs simultaneously. After she retired the first time, she taught school again in Arizona. When she retired from that position, she made her final move to Orlando, Florida. Even during retirement, she volunteered for the local PBS/WMFE station and the local science center.
Frances enjoyed making crafts, growing plants, shopping on QVC, and playing cards, Mahjongg, Rummikub, Bingo, and the lottery. She loved to travel, taking many cruises and visiting many countries, including: China, Egypt, England, France, India, Jamaica, Latvia, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Russia, Spain, and Turkey. Egypt was a definite favorite.
Frances is survived by her four sons, her daughters-in-law, Brandee, Colleen, and Lisa, and her seven grandchildren: Kyler Labbe (J.P.), Kevin and Zachary Berry, Holly and Elijah Berry, and Rachel and Nicole Berry. She loved them all very much.
Frances will be remembered for her incredible generosity and a great sense of humor. She died at the age of 90 on November 29, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.
Frances valued a good education. After graduating from Manual Training High School in Denver, she earned a B.A. at the University of Denver in Denver, CO in 1955, an M.A. in Education at Chapman College in Orange, CA in 1976, an M.A. in Social Science (Psychology) at Azusa Pacific College in Azusa, CA in 1978, and a Doctoral degree in Education (EdD) from the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, CA in 1983.
She enlisted in the US Navy Reserves in March 1954, training in Rhode Island and later stationed in Little Rock, Virginia. She was commissioned in April 1956 as an Ensign in the US Navy. She was one of the first women officers to be stationed with Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet (PhibLant) in July of 1956. She was given top secret clearance to work with cryptographic information and served until September 1957. She liked to tell the story of how she went to see her first submarine and when she asked where it was, she was told, "You're standing on it, ma'am."
She met George H. Berry, Jr. on a blind date in Rhode Island in 1956. They were married on May 1, 1957 at St. Andrews Chapel at the Naval Academy in Anapolis, MD. Together they had four children, Paul, Eric, Steve, and Tim. While George continued to serve in the Navy, they moved all over, including Texas, California, Hawaii, Japan, Virginia, and finally back to California. (They divorced in 1976 and George passed away in 2013.)
Frances taught in the school system for over 25 years, at both the elementary level and in special education, and also as a community college professor. She also served as a school principal in California and once was a candidate for the school board. Some of her other jobs included library page, hospital clerk, counselor (certified to use hypnosis), and grand jury member. At one point, she held five jobs simultaneously. After she retired the first time, she taught school again in Arizona. When she retired from that position, she made her final move to Orlando, Florida. Even during retirement, she volunteered for the local PBS/WMFE station and the local science center.
Frances enjoyed making crafts, growing plants, shopping on QVC, and playing cards, Mahjongg, Rummikub, Bingo, and the lottery. She loved to travel, taking many cruises and visiting many countries, including: China, Egypt, England, France, India, Jamaica, Latvia, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Russia, Spain, and Turkey. Egypt was a definite favorite.
Frances is survived by her four sons, her daughters-in-law, Brandee, Colleen, and Lisa, and her seven grandchildren: Kyler Labbe (J.P.), Kevin and Zachary Berry, Holly and Elijah Berry, and Rachel and Nicole Berry. She loved them all very much.
Frances will be remembered for her incredible generosity and a great sense of humor. She died at the age of 90 on November 29, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.
Born in Wagon Mound, New Mexico, on June 20, 1933, Frances was raised in Denver, Colorado by her parents Francisco P. Aguilar and Candelaria (Baca) Aguilar. Growing up, her nickname was "Pancha." She had two older half siblings, Margaret and Walter, and three younger full siblings, Helen, Juan Rafael "J.R.", and Samuel, who all pre-deceased her. Frances was proud of her Wagon Mound heritage and enjoyed finding out the details about her grandparents and other relatives on the family tree. Her paternal grandfather was Juan Rafael "J.R." Aguilar, who served as mayor and sheriff of Mora County, NM. Although she and her parents were native-Spanish speakers, one of Frances' college professors told her that the dialect they spoke was "medieval."
Frances valued a good education. After graduating from Manual Training High School in Denver, she earned a B.A. at the University of Denver in Denver, CO in 1955, an M.A. in Education at Chapman College in Orange, CA in 1976, an M.A. in Social Science (Psychology) at Azusa Pacific College in Azusa, CA in 1978, and a Doctoral degree in Education (EdD) from the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, CA in 1983.
She enlisted in the US Navy Reserves in March 1954, training in Rhode Island and later stationed in Little Rock, Virginia. She was commissioned in April 1956 as an Ensign in the US Navy. She was one of the first women officers to be stationed with Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet (PhibLant) in July of 1956. She was given top secret clearance to work with cryptographic information and served until September 1957. She liked to tell the story of how she went to see her first submarine and when she asked where it was, she was told, "You're standing on it, ma'am."
She met George H. Berry, Jr. on a blind date in Rhode Island in 1956. They were married on May 1, 1957 at St. Andrews Chapel at the Naval Academy in Anapolis, MD. Together they had four children, Paul, Eric, Steve, and Tim. While George continued to serve in the Navy, they moved all over, including Texas, California, Hawaii, Japan, Virginia, and finally back to California. (They divorced in 1976 and George passed away in 2013.)
Frances taught in the school system for over 25 years, at both the elementary level and in special education, and also as a community college professor. She also served as a school principal in California and once was a candidate for the school board. Some of her other jobs included library page, hospital clerk, counselor (certified to use hypnosis), and grand jury member. At one point, she held five jobs simultaneously. After she retired the first time, she taught school again in Arizona. When she retired from that position, she made her final move to Orlando, Florida. Even during retirement, she volunteered for the local PBS/WMFE station and the local science center.
Frances enjoyed making crafts, growing plants, shopping on QVC, and playing cards, Mahjongg, Rummikub, Bingo, and the lottery. She loved to travel, taking many cruises and visiting many countries, including: China, Egypt, England, France, India, Jamaica, Latvia, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Russia, Spain, and Turkey. Egypt was a definite favorite.
Frances is survived by her four sons, her daughters-in-law, Brandee, Colleen, and Lisa, and her seven grandchildren: Kyler Labbe (J.P.), Kevin and Zachary Berry, Holly and Elijah Berry, and Rachel and Nicole Berry. She loved them all very much.
Frances will be remembered for her incredible generosity and a great sense of humor. She died at the age of 90 on November 29, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.
Frances valued a good education. After graduating from Manual Training High School in Denver, she earned a B.A. at the University of Denver in Denver, CO in 1955, an M.A. in Education at Chapman College in Orange, CA in 1976, an M.A. in Social Science (Psychology) at Azusa Pacific College in Azusa, CA in 1978, and a Doctoral degree in Education (EdD) from the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, CA in 1983.
She enlisted in the US Navy Reserves in March 1954, training in Rhode Island and later stationed in Little Rock, Virginia. She was commissioned in April 1956 as an Ensign in the US Navy. She was one of the first women officers to be stationed with Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet (PhibLant) in July of 1956. She was given top secret clearance to work with cryptographic information and served until September 1957. She liked to tell the story of how she went to see her first submarine and when she asked where it was, she was told, "You're standing on it, ma'am."
She met George H. Berry, Jr. on a blind date in Rhode Island in 1956. They were married on May 1, 1957 at St. Andrews Chapel at the Naval Academy in Anapolis, MD. Together they had four children, Paul, Eric, Steve, and Tim. While George continued to serve in the Navy, they moved all over, including Texas, California, Hawaii, Japan, Virginia, and finally back to California. (They divorced in 1976 and George passed away in 2013.)
Frances taught in the school system for over 25 years, at both the elementary level and in special education, and also as a community college professor. She also served as a school principal in California and once was a candidate for the school board. Some of her other jobs included library page, hospital clerk, counselor (certified to use hypnosis), and grand jury member. At one point, she held five jobs simultaneously. After she retired the first time, she taught school again in Arizona. When she retired from that position, she made her final move to Orlando, Florida. Even during retirement, she volunteered for the local PBS/WMFE station and the local science center.
Frances enjoyed making crafts, growing plants, shopping on QVC, and playing cards, Mahjongg, Rummikub, Bingo, and the lottery. She loved to travel, taking many cruises and visiting many countries, including: China, Egypt, England, France, India, Jamaica, Latvia, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Russia, Spain, and Turkey. Egypt was a definite favorite.
Frances is survived by her four sons, her daughters-in-law, Brandee, Colleen, and Lisa, and her seven grandchildren: Kyler Labbe (J.P.), Kevin and Zachary Berry, Holly and Elijah Berry, and Rachel and Nicole Berry. She loved them all very much.
Frances will be remembered for her incredible generosity and a great sense of humor. She died at the age of 90 on November 29, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.
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