Fran B. (Miskiewicz) Warren

Fran Barbara Warren (née Miskiewicz), born November 21, 1944, passed away peacefully, January 19, 2025 leaving behind a legacy of love, dedication, and passion that touched countless lives. Fran was known for her dry sense of humor, unwavering loyalty as a friend, and her boundless curiosity about the world.

Fran spent most of her life in the house where she grew up, cherishing the memories and traditions it held. She was predeceased by her parents, her beloved sister Cindy, and her husband Donald Warren. She is survived by her brother Richard Miskiewicz and his wife Miko, as well as her nephews Dillon and Tyler Miskiewicz, all of Ventura, California. Fran is also survived by her stepdaughter Roberta Warren and her wife Glynne Trower of Ashland, Virginia.

An accomplished academic, Fran graduated from Pope Pius High School, earned a BA from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and an MA from Montclair State University. She devoted 34 years to teaching foreign languages in the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District, where she inspired countless students. Fran founded a student travel abroad program in 1970, leading 18 trips to Europe (visiting France and Spain more than a dozen times), Canada, Mexico, and across the United States. Her love of travel extended beyond the classroom, as she visited 30 countries, numerous islands, and 48 U.S. states over her lifetime.

Fran’s creativity and intellectual curiosity knew no bounds. She played the piano, a lifelong passion shared with her late sister Cindy, as both purchased their pianos using their father’s life insurance proceeds following his passing in 1990. Fran enjoyed jazz and classical music, collected Oriental figures and pillows, and wrote books in collaboration. She frequently shared her sharp insights through letters to the editor.

A passionate gardener, Fran cultivated basil, parsley, and other herbs alongside vibrant flowers. Her culinary talents were equally remarkable, as she prepared exotic dishes with a flair for complexity. Fran’s love of horticulture led her to establish the Garden Club of Clifton in 1992 after winning the Best Spring Garden Contest during Clifton’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration. She served as president of the club numerous times and was a dedicated volunteer in many Clifton organizations, including the Clifton Residents on Call (CROCS), the Clifton Centennial Committee, and the Clifton Beautification Committee. Fran also volunteered at the Book Nook at the Clifton Main Library.

Her commitment to community extended to teaching T’ai Chi Chih classes for the Clifton Adult Program, St. Mary’s Senior Link, and the Clifton Boys and Girls Club. She and her husband Don also trained as FEMA First Responders, ready to assist in times of need.

Fran embraced life’s simple joys, knitting her own coats, creating lavender sachets as “The Lavender Lady,” and practicing mindfulness through T’ai Chi Chih. She was also a devoted volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters for four years.

Fran’s life was a testament to service, creativity, and adventure. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered by her family, friends, students, and all whose lives she enriched. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to local gardening organizations or American Cancer Association in her memory.

Visitation will be held Thursday, January 23, 2025 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton. Funeral service 10:30 am Friday at the Funeral Home. Interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Paterson. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org or to American Cancer Association, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741, www.cancer.org or to A Local Gardening Organization of your choice. Please visit www.bizubquinlan.com to leave condolences to the family on the Tribute Wall section of the obituary. 

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