Frances Molla

Frances Schofield Molla, age 85, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at her home on the North River in Norwell.
Fran was born in Dorchester on May 3,1938 and grew up in East Weymouth. She graduated from Archbishop Williams High School in 1956 and from the Whidden Memorial Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse in 1959. She also trained at the Boston Floating Hospital in pediatrics, the Soldiers' Home for outpatient, and at Taunton State Hospital for psychiatric nursing. In 1981, Fran received a degree in Psychology from Bridgewater State College
Fran's call to nursing was central to her life, and she served as a surgical nurse at Milton Hospital, Quincy City Hospital, and the Martha's Vineyard Hospital. She was especially proud of the many years she spent as the school nurse and health educator at the South Shore Technical High School, and as director of nursing at Quincy Mental Health and subsequently at the Cape Cod and Islands Community Mental Health Center. Fran remained lifelong friends with her nursing school classmates.
Like her husband Bob, Fran had a green thumb and was keen on tending her large herb and rock gardens. She enjoyed an active life outdoors and loved to quahog, clam, fish, camp, and ski with her family, and she held the "First Fish Right" for the Town of Norwell. She was an excellent knitter of sweaters, and she crocheted many colorful afghans for her family. A student of early American furniture and decorative arts, she spent hours creating handmade stencils to embellish the walls of her homes and to create colonial-style floor mats. Fran was a superb cook, always testing new recipes from all over the world. Her clams casino, chowder, and baked beans were family favorites.
As a cancer survivor, Fran was a dedicated board member of the American Cancer Society of the South Shore and helped organize the Relay For Life for many years. Fran's community service continued when she was elected to the Advisory Board for the Town of Norwell. Fran was also a communicant of St. Helen's Roman Catholic church where she taught catechism.
Fran was recently predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Robert Louis Molla, Jr. Her parents, Raymond Hilton Schofield and Beatrice (Shea) Schofield, also predeceased her. She leaves behind her devoted dog and constant companion Christy; her children Robert Louis Molla, III (James Mandrell) of Duxbury, Michael Raymond Molla of Mount Joy PA, and Susan Molla Kent of Halifax; her grandchildren Katelyn Savoie of Middleborough, Rachael Shea Kent (Richard A. Uronis) of Bourne, Louis Ames Kent of Halifax; and two great grandchildren Laurent Savoie, Jr. and Ella Savoie, both of Middleborough.
Visiting hours are on Sunday, April 7, from 3:00PM to 5:00PM at the Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington Street, Hanover. Funeral mass of Christian burial on Monday, April 8, at 9:00AM at St. Mary of the Sacred Heart (Our Lady of the Angels). Procession from the funeral home at 8:00 a.m. Burial will take place at the Washington Street Cemetery in Norwell following the funeral.
Flowers are welcome, or the family encourages donations in memory of Frances Molla to the South Shore Technical High School, Dr. Thomas Hickey, 476 Webster Street, Hanover MA 02339.