Frances Archer Drnek

On the 23rd of July, 2025, having brightened this world for more than ninety-three years, Frances Drnek passed peacefully into heaven's realm, where she's no doubt rejoined her life's love and companion.

An only child, Frances would scarcely have believed she'd become matriarch to a family that included eight children, thirteen grandchildren, (including two through her eldest's remarriage), and seven great-grandchildren.

Growing up in Mastic Beach, young Frances Archer was the "girl next door" to Richard "Dick" Drnek, and he became the love of her life. They were married and moved LaRochelle, France where he was stationed, serving as an MP in the US Army.

After three happy years abroad, and having borne two sons, the family left France and returned to Long Island with Dick taking the reins of the family business, Hansen's Carpet and Linoleum Corp.

The arrival of twin babies was followed in rapid succession by another child, another, and yet another, as the Drnek brood reached six. Like a momma duck and her ducklings, the sight of Frances and her young family would warm the hearts of all she encountered at the grocery store, the bank, the post office, or the church. (In all those places, and especially at the family business, those ducklings knew better and would rarely stray from their row.) Five years passed before a seventh child arrived, and to everyone's surprise, seven years later, Frances became a mother one last time.

To her last days she provided counsel to all her adult children, and she relished her role as the hub in the wheel of family news, happily imparting updates on the exploits of children and grandchildren.

Frances was a loving mother, and supportive spouse, but she was also creative and entrepreneurial. She sold Tupperware, and something called a "Relaxasizor". A short-lived experiment in retail, "Gifts by Frances", led to a manager-level position for sales and marketing at Woolco.

At 60 years of age, shortly after the unexpected passing of her husband, Dick, she moved to Florida and got a real estate license.

Frances' boundless energy, confidence, and capacity to take on all challenges defined her life and has shaped the lives of her children. She was and will always be a role model, a moral compass, and the world's best mother.

Frances will be buried alongside her husband, Dick, in a private ceremony not far from their Mastic Beach home. Her loved ones are comforted in the belief that she has already joined him and two of their children, Linda and Kathleen, and is happily updating everyone on the family's exploits.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Frances' name to St Jude RC Church in Mastic Beach.