Frances Rowena Bradley

 

This account reflects her daughters' perspective, recognizing that their mother had a rich life before they were born and after they left home, they welcome family and friends to share a story or a photo they have with Frances. This collection will remain online to honor her memory and the many lives she touched.

With love and gratitude,

Sue, Nina, Julie ~ daughters

Ryan, Daniel, Alex, Mackenzie (Julia), Z, Julia, Chloe, Leeza ~ grandchildren

Ken, Bill, Barry - sons-in-law

 

Photos have been added to the Mementos link and on the service page with the yellow roses. 

 

 

Frances Rowena Clifford was born in Murree, India, on September 4, 1936, at the British Military Station at Ferozepore, India near the Pakistan border. She was the eldest daughter of Lieutenant Hugh Francis Clifford and Rowena Clifton Beynon. Frances and her younger sisters, Jane and Mandy, grew up in both India and England.  Frances attended boarding school in India with Jane and their cousin Carola. During World War II, the family fled as far west as they could travel and settled in Cornwall, England. Gas mask drills at school and keeping the curtains closed at night to prevent light from escaping during bombing raids were recurring events.  There were fun times too and Frances often recalled learning to swim in Bude on the English coast and capturing cargo crates that floated ashore, likely from destroyed ships, remembering how she tasted her first banana from one of those mystery crates.

 

Photo albums and fox hunting trophies in her mother’s home show that Frances was an accomplished equestrian.  She was athletic and independent, and said that her mother warned her not to upstage her dates, specifically “do not let the vicar’s son know that you can row a boat better than he can”.   Frances was a Girl Guide, equivalent to Girl Scouts, and their motto, “Be Prepared,” and core principle to help others through acts of service, was a path Frances followed throughout her life.  Later, when her mother was diagnosed with an illness and went away for treatment, Frances took charge of her younger sisters, the dog, and the household. During this time, she sought a job at the nearby Glyndebourne Opera House. To her surprise, when she called for a position expecting to speak with a receptionist, she found herself talking to the founder, John Christie. He instructed her to travel to London to meet his assistant, telling her to inform them that Mr. Christie had sent her. Frances got a job as a switchboard operator and loved the escape from reality that the theater provided. It was an exhilarating time as she worked alongside actors, set designers, and opera singers, often helping to sew costumes and keeping the performer’s shenanigans a secret.

 

As a young adult, Frances was always seeking the next adventure. She worked in London and eventually accompanied her family to Iran, where she met Fraidoun (Fred) Labib and his family. She told stories of fun times riding Arabian horses in the desert and spending time with Fred and his siblings.  Fred’s mother even gifted Frances a portrait of herself by an artist friend who created it from memory after meeting Frances one time.  Frances never liked displaying the portrait of herself, so it was rarely seen but the artist eventually became quite famous and so the story was retold often.  Fred had his own story of how he met Frances when he noticed a beautiful British woman and her mother trying to have lunch at a hotel restaurant but couldn’t because they had their whippets.  Thinking fast, Fred offered to watch the dogs outside while Frances and her mother had lunch.  His bold move made an impression on Frances, and the pair continued a friendship.  Recently earning a degree in broadcasting from USC in California, Fred was planning to return to the United States to work for a television network. After he relocated to New York City, he invited Frances to join him. She liked to say that while she told him she would come, she made it clear that if she didn’t like the States, she would leave and not marry him. With just one suitcase, she boarded the RMS Queen Elizabeth ocean liner and arrived in New York City. Frances began working at the Indian Mission at the United Nations, a busy and exciting time during which she and her colleagues received almost real-time accounts of the Dalai Lama as he fled across the Himalayas to India. She also shared funny stories of Fred playing chess with the Russian delegates at the UN, drawing a crowd as they were equally matched. Frances quickly made friends and was exceptionally resourceful in finding apartment-sitting jobs through the UN bulletin board. Fortunately for her daughters, Frances decided to stay in NYC and marry Fred.

 

After the birth of three daughters, Frances and Fred moved from their tiny apartment to their own house in Teaneck, New Jersey.  The story of their house hunting was often retold as it is not how it's done today. They drove around and noticed some children playing so they stopped to ask how they liked their school and if they knew of any houses for sale.  They answered yes and the house they pointed to looked perfect, so they bought it. Frances stayed busy caring for her family and helping Fred sponsor his siblings and their families when they moved to the States. She enrolled the children in school and sometimes played the role of a substitute mother for her nieces and nephews. The household was always lively, filled with children, family, and friends coming and going. Frances welcomed/tolerated every pet the kids, and Fred brought home, including a Capuchin monkey.  Her daughters remember her repeating, “you must be kind to the animals”, and “you can judge how well somebody treats other people by how well they treat animals”.

 

Frances kept up with world events, and with a short wave radio frequently on and multiple televisions in the home—since Fred worked for ABC News in Manhattan—discussing world news became a part of daily life. She was always well-informed about global affairs and enjoyed discussing current subjects, frequently asking for opinions. Her work at the UN, frequent calls and visits from Fred’s family from Iran and her family from Australia and England, along with neighbors from around the world, helped connect life in Teaneck to the broader world. Her daughters remember learning to play Mahjong (and mixing tiles like a washing machine) with the Chinese family who lived across the street. Something that Frances no doubt arranged as a way of helping the family.  

 

Once her children were old enough, Frances returned to work as a travel agent and then as a medical lab technician, working at Metpath, where she often shared funny stories about the specimens brought in for testing. Her daughters remember the fun times spent camping with their mother while their dad was working, traveling to historic sites, and enjoying trips to shows and parks. Frances would say she took the kids where she wanted to go, believing everyone had fun just being on an adventure together. 

 

Upon retiring, Frances and Fred moved to Colorado Springs. Their daughter, Nini, along with her husband Bill, and Fred’s brother, Firuz and his wife Joan, also relocated there, creating a new family epicenter. In retirement, Frances remained active, buying and fixing up rental properties and managing tenants with Fred. After Fred passed away in 1996, Frances continued to oversee the rental properties and became involved in her church, participating in mission trips and assisting after Hurricane Katrina. She also helped newly arrived refugee families adapt to life in the United States.  Having experience navigating the complexities of moving to a new country, she was a skilled and compassionate guide and mentor to many families. 

 

A few years later, Frances met William Jack Bradley, a Texan who grew up during the Depression. Just like Fred, Jack was quite different from Frances, and they amused each other, laughing at their differences. They married and enjoyed many active years, traveling extensively. Jack was an excellent driver, making their road trips across the back roads of the country even more enjoyable. They also traveled to the Holy Land together. Frances loved adventure, so when Sue and her husband, Ken invited her to Ukraine for a special mission, she readily accepted, resulting in two additional grandchildren.

 

After Jack passed away in 2016, Frances decided to downsize and moved into an apartment, bringing her cat along as a companion. She soon met Lloyd who became a good friend and someone who was interesting and kind.   Being computer savvy, Frances enjoyed helping Lloyd with his presentations about Japan and Veteran’s Day as Lloyd spent many years in Japan and was a WWII veteran. He was responsible for introducing Frances to sushi, something she came to enjoy. Frances eventually moved again to a new place with a new cat, "Miss Kitty Softpaws", a street cat from Kuwait. Miss Kitty stayed by Frances's side until her last day.

 

Frances took good care of herself and loved swimming at the YMCA and hiking the trails of the Garden of the Gods and the Rocky Mountain foothills. Though she survived lung cancer—a mystery since she never smoked—and faced other health challenges, she carried herself with quiet strength, remaining positive and never complaining.  Her daughter Nini was always available to assist with anything and Frances frequently said that Nini was wonderful.

 

On January 4, 2026, Miss Kitty took her final walk around the bed as Frances quietly passed away in her sleep. Frances took her last breath peacefully, late at night, in her own room. Before her final day, Frances managed to say goodbye to her family and friends who came to visit. Always interested in her grandchildren, she stayed informed about their lives and imparted words of wisdom to help them make good decisions. She enjoyed engaging in good conversations and shared her stories through photos and accounts of her travels. Growing up during the war, Frances learned to live simply and was full of common sense.  She had a sense of urgency about getting on with life and making the most of it.  

 

Frances will be deeply missed, especially on Mother's Day and her birthday. She had a special fondness for yellow roses and often chose red poppies to commemorate VE Day and Memorial Day. Additionally, she cherished little yellow daffodils for St. David's Day, honoring her mother's Welsh heritage. We plan to surround Frances with her favorite flowers in her final resting place.

 

Frances left a handwritten note stating that she wishes to be cremated and her ashes put in a wooden urn and placed beside Jack. Her daughters chose a wooden urn, carved with beautiful roses. The carving reminds her daughters of the carved furniture set that Fred bought for the house in Teaneck, and is still with her daughters today. Frances’s journey in life began in India many years ago. It was a happy surprise to learn that the urn was made in India. Frances’s long and wonderful life gently came full circle.