Frances Louise (Farrow) Birch of Peacham passed away peacefully in Newbury, VT, on June 28, 2026, at age 102.

Fran was born in Vermont on March 5, 1924, to Mildred (Tellier) and Sidney Farrow on East Peacham Road in Peacham, Vermont. She spent her childhood on the dairy farm and played on the basketball team at Peacham Academy; she graduated from the Academy in 1941.

Fran was a waitress at a lunch counter in St Johnsbury, and it was there that she met her future husband.

She married Harold Birch in 1943 in Peacham. They eventually moved from Peacham to New Jersey to be near Harold’s family, but continued to come to Vermont for holidays. They camped at Groton State Forest for years and also camped at the beach in Avalon, NJ, most often with Fran’s dear cousins Jean and Bob Reynolds. After retiring they spent their summers in Vermont and continued to camp with a group of friends in various campgrounds around New England.

She was an insatiable card player and especially enjoyed playing Shanghai and was always ready with her tin of pennies. She never met a jigsaw she couldn’t complete.

Fran was a member of Peacham Congregational Church and Six Mile Run Reformed Church in Franklin Park, NJ. She was active in the South Brunswick PTA and served as President.

Fran drove school buses for South Brunswick Township NJ until her retirement. She would drive the students to games and school trips and events, even driving into New York City!

Fran is survived by her children Harold Birch Jr.(Nancy), Carol Jablonski (Robert), Anita Vann (Harry), and Warren Birch(Pam Willey); grandchildren Eric Jablonski (Lisa), Clinton Birch (Crystal), Brian Birch (Ashley), Julie Cappellano (Derek Whitaker), and John Cappellano(Esther); great grandchildren Jake Jablonski (Laura), Caitlyn Birch, Connor Birch, Lillyana Cappellano, John Cappellano, Lincoln Cappellano, August Whitaker, Theodore Whitaker; great great grandchildren Brooks Jablonski, Graham Jablonski, Preston Jablonski. She was Aunt Fran to numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Frances was predeceased by her husband Harold Birch, her sister and brother Geraldine Livingston and Sidney Farrow, and her grandson Trevor Jablonski.

A memorial service will be held at the Peacham Congregational Church on Thursday, July 16th at 11:00.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Fran’s memory to the Peacham Meetinghouse Third Century Campaign, 56 Church Street, Peacham, Vermont 05862