West Newbury, Vt. —
Frances had a long and varied professional life, the first chapter of which was a successful career in the international auction business, starting at Christie’s in London in 1976 and concluding at Sotheby’s in New York in 1985. Her specialty was European books and manuscripts. Her first job in the Upper Valley was as a cataloger at Baker Library at Dartmouth College; she eventually led a special project to catalog a large collection of historic sheet music. Following her stint at Dartmouth, Frances joined what became a family publishing business, serving as Managing Editor of a well-known local monthly newsmagazine called Behind the Times and a weekly advertiser called It’s Classified. For many years she served as the managing partner of the latter. Frances built yet another career in recent years as a successful novelist, publishing — under the pseudonym of Miranda Neville — 10 novels and several novellas.
Fanny was a delightful person, widely known as a great entertainer, raconteur, friend, cook, and a respected professional. She was a wonderful hostess, a gift she first developed at university and maintained all her life. Like her father, Fanny operated in many European languages—a useful tool in her various careers. Fanny and her father were also passionate about opera and gardening, with his celebrated garden as an inspiration. They also used to tour country houses, often visiting the grand owners if her father thought he had a connection to them. One of Fanny’s sisters wrote, “All three of us went round France and Italy doing the same thing in the year the men landed on the moon. Lots of laughter, chatter, singing in the car and good meals.” Another sister wrote, “Fanny amused us with her particular view of the world, especially about politics. We were enlightened by her intelligence—always making one love life more than the day before.” Fanny remained closely involved with her large family back in England, attending many family weddings, funerals and birthday parties over the years.
Fanny is survived by her daughter, Becca, and her former husband, Peter; also by her sisters, Marianne, Catherine and Lucy; and her brother Richard. She had two nieces and six nephews, four great-nieces and a great-nephew. She always remained in cordial contact with all of her Mallary in-laws.
One of Fanny’s sisters shared the thoughts of a mutual friend.
“Fanny was beautiful, clever, funny, brave and warm. There are so many words to describe her bright spirit. I didn’t see her as often as I’d have liked but whenever I did there was a generous welcome, as if she had been longing to see me again—such genuine emotion and charm, that dangerous word, but in Fanny’s case, the real thing.”
There will be a memorial service for Frances at the West Newbury Church on Saturday the fourth of November at 10 a.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her honor may be made to Planned Parenthood or the New England Foundation for the Arts.