Harriet Frances "Fran" (Whitmarsh) Bromley

Obituary for Harriet Frances “Fran” Bromley 90 years ago on February 21st 1934 in the tiny crossroads of Center Village New York, there was a fierce winter blizzard. Emmaline Whitmarsh was at home with her two-year-old Laura Jane Whitmarsh and feeling the unmistakable signs of her labor beginning. Emmaline tried to call her husband, Harry Frances Whitmarsh, who was at work at the armory in Binghamton. Harry tried to get home, but the 25 miles to Center Village were impassable. Emmaline enlisted young Laura Jane to run to the neighbor for help. After her adventurous birth, Fran spent her early years living in various locations with her mother and now 2 sisters including the youngest Patricia Ann Whitmarsh. In these lean days, Fran learned about roller skating, tomato soup and Girl Scouts. Fran excelled in school and attended many activities and attracted many beaus. Harry and his new wife, Sarah Whitmarsh, soon found their household filled with his three daughters and Sarah’s twin daughters, Jean and Joan, who were the same age as Fran. After many dances, cheerleading performances, and assorted young men (dating their way through the Whitmarsh girls), Fran had her heart set on Richard Bromley who lived a short jog from her. Dick enlisted in the US Airforce and was eventually stationed in England. The relationship blossomed by mail. On Christmas Eve 1952, stepmom Sarah (who was the postmistress) opened the office after hours to retrieve a package for Fran. It was a diamond ring! This was followed closely by a voyage to England to marry Richard. Fran, young and naive, booked passage on the USS United States ocean liner. At age 19 with a white dress and a macaroni and cheese palate, she made her way East across the Atlantic. Fran and Dick were married on March 21st, 1953 one week after she arrived. In 1954, the Air Force said it was time for the Bromleys to return to the US. This time they would fly, another first for Fran. They lived at the air force base in West Palm Beach, Florida. Their first child was born in that base hospital; a daughter they named Rebecca Marie Bromley, on December 20th, 1954. The young family headed north 10 days later. Within three years, the Bromleys purchased a house in Harpursville, New York on the GI bill. Their son, Robert James Bromley, was born June 30, 1958. The next 15 years Fran was dedicated to the education of her children, she was a charter, and working member of the Colesville Ambulance Service, a fun-filled leader of Girl Scout troop 486, president and active member of the local American Legion Auxiliary, and member and president of St. Lukes Church and Museum. In 1969 she landed a job in the Harpursville Central School high school office as the Principal’s secretary. Fran became fast friends at the school with a “lunch bunch” of friends, notably Lida Bassler, Phyllis Lerwick (both predeceased), Brenda Rhodes, Bill Mihalko, Pat Dalpiaz, and Jenny Smith who survive. In between obligations, Fran taught her children to drive, sewed most of her daughter’s clothes (including prom gowns, award winning Halloween costumes, and Rebecca’s wedding dress in 1986) and in 1973 she began to paint. Fran started small and improved quickly until she had achieved some acclaim. Awards were given, gallery showings and sales of many paintings, and also teaching basic acrylic painting at the Eastern Broome Sr. Center for about 25 years. Fran was able to fill positions on the Board of Directors of the Nineveh Public Library, the Indian Hill Girl Scout Council - where she received the Women of Distinction award, and the RBM foundation which made decisions about applications for donated funds. Fran also spent years in retirement with St. Luke's church and museum, delivering Meals on Wheels, and helping to teach classes of teens about local history, sign language, and genealogy. Fran wrote a biographical book, “By the Way”, to record the remarkable lives of local elders. She was named Rotary Citizen of the year in 2012. She is predeceased by her husband Richard Marshall Bromley (2002), her sister Patricia Brown (Whitmarsh), step sisters Joan Hamilton Thorne and Jean Hamilton Perry, her son-in-law Robert VanDerHeide (2022), brother-in-law James Bromley (2019), and many cousins. Fran is survived by her children Rebecca Marie VanDerHeide and Robert James Bromley, sister Laura Jane Tracy (Whitmarsh), grandchildren Laura Jane VanDerHeide (Kris Eckrote) and James Robert VanDerHeide (Hollie), great granddaughters Rory Elizabeth and Ella Jane VanDerHeide, and Matilda Frances Eckrote who was born on February 14th, 2024 just hours after her great-grandma passed. Fran is also survived by her sister-in-law Nancy Bromley, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Many thanks to Fran’s loyal and beloved home health aides: Aimee, Sara, Susie, Betty, Jackie, and Anna. These women were uncompromising in their care for Fran including accompanying her to family dinners to assist her needs, taking her for rides almost daily, and even continuing care when she moved to the nursing home. Aimee was holding Fran’s hand when she passed. The family’s love and gratitude continue in our hearts. Services in honor of Fran will be held March 2nd, 2024 at the Nineveh Presbyterian Church, Route 7 in Nineveh, NY. Visiting hours from 10-11am, service from 11am-12pm, and luncheon at 12pm. Pastor Alan Presby will preside. Burial in the Riverview Cemetery, Harpursville, NY will occur later in the spring.  Online condolences may be made at:  www.omaddenfh.com.

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