Page created by: Mary Frank's Family

Mary Isabel Frank, 93, of Pittsburgh, PA, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2019. Delayed arrangements for a “Celebration of Life” are being made for Friday, October 23rd, 2020 at 3:00 pm at the Calvary Episcopal Church (315 Shady Lane, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, (412) 661-0120). This would have been her 94th Birthday! "There is no singing allowed due to COVID, but you may hum from the bottom of your soul" (their words, not ours).

Born October 23, 1926. Mary grew up in Clark Summit, PA with her parents and younger brother, Phil. She was active in the Girl Scouts and achieved the Gold Award, the most prestigious award a Girl Scout could earn. She attended Tufts University in Medford, MA, earning a Bachelor's Degree in early childhood education. Subsequently, she received her Master’s Degree in early childhood education from Duquesne University. This education led to a long career in teaching children with special needs. She taught children ages 3-5 at St. Joseph’s College Preschool. Later she moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where she worked in special education for over 25 years, primarily at The Children’s Institute. For a short period of her teaching career, she brought a lamb into her classroom. Mary did indeed have a little lamb!

In retirement, Mary volunteered as a docent at The Frick Pittsburgh as well as an architectural tour guide at Calvary Episcopal Church, where she was an active member.

While Mary loved Pittsburgh, large parts of her summers were spent in Mattapoisett, MA close to Cape Cod. For many years she brought her nieces and nephews to Mattapoisett for weeks of exploration and summer fun in a house they called, "SuSeSa" pronounced "sue-SEE-sa" (short for Sun, Sea, Sand).

In addition to teaching and traveling, Mary was an avid reader, music and art lover, and tennis player. She was always available for a thorough recap of big matches.

Possessing an imaginative and playful soul, Mary combined these traits with her extensive experience in working with young children to write and self-publish a children’s book series, "Gilbert the Giraffe", at the impressive age of 90!

Mary is survived by her brother, Philip Frank (Gloria Cervi) of Pittsburgh, PA; nieces Christy Frank Murphy (Thomas) of Rye, NY and Carla Frank of New York, NY; nephews Philip "Teak" Wiley Frank of New York, NY and Steven Wiley Frank (Sarah Scott) of Pittsburgh, PA; great-nieces Bridget Murphy of Denver, CO, Meredith Evans (Dane) of New York, NY, Meaghan Murphy of Baltimore, MD, and Claire Frank of Pittsburgh, PA, and great-nephew Wyatt Frank of Pittsburgh, PA.

In place of flowers, donations can be made to either:
> University of Pittsburgh Medical and Health Sciences Foundation (Forbes Tower, 3600 Forbes Avenue, Suite 8084, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, (412)-647-3048). They raise money for Parkinson’s research, which was a cause passionate to Mary after she received a Deep Brain Stimulation procedure at the University of Pittsburgh with great results.

> Calvary Episcopal Church (315 Shady Lane, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, (412) 661-0120). The Calvary Church was a community that Mary was actively a part of and admired. They have been incredibly supportive of her spiritual journey even when she could no longer attend Sunday services.