Frances Calcavecchio Hluhanich

HIGH FALLS - Frances Calcavecchio Hluhanich, 85, of Preston, Conn., formerly of High Falls, died peacefully at home on May 13, 2014.
Born Jan. 19, 1929, in Manhattan, she was the youngest of three daughters to William and Catherine (Alma) Richardson. Predeceased by a sister, Doris Hassell of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., she is survived by her sister, Adaire Crepet of High Falls, three daughters, Dianne Valdivia of High Falls, Donna Calcavecchio of Rosendale, and Stephanie Calcavecchio of Preston, Conn., three grandchildren, Joshua Vel of Atlanta, Ga., Allegra Smaldone of Kingston and Luciano Valdivia of Rhinecliff, and a great-granddaughter Alora Smaldone of Kingston.
Frances graduated from William Cullen Bryant High School, Astoria Queens, in 1947. She was employed by Pan American Airlines as a secretary where she met her first husband, Ralph Calcavecchio. During that time, she also worked as a photographer's model for Vogue Magazine. Fran and Ralph moved to High Falls in 1952 where they resided for the duration of their marriage.
During her residence there, she served on the High Falls Civic Association and was an active participant in the planning of the 1969 Tercentennial Celebrations which helped launch High Falls as a mecca for art and a hub of creativity. Frances was well known for being an excellent and gracious hostess who welcomed many friends and neighbors to her home with great food and lasting friendship.
She was an avid knitter and an accomplished seamstress, noted for sewing all of her daughter's designer quality dresses during their childhood. Extremely creative, she was also a member of the fledgling Marbletown Artists Association and created scrims for many of the Association's dramatic productions.
In 1977, she moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. where she resided for 25 years, then moved to Connecticut with her late husband, Alex Hluhanich.
After cremation, a private gathering of family and close friends will take place at a later date.