Frances R. Fraser-Smith

Wantage - Frances R. Fraser-Smith, age 88, passed peacefully on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at her home with her loving family by her side. Born in New York, New York to the late Albert and Sybil (Hammer) Moeller, Frances lived in Ridgewood, New Jersey and Scotland, UK for many years before moving to Wantage. Frances attended Earlham College, Indiana and Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, Scotland for her undergraduate degrees and earned her masters in theater studies at the University of Leeds, England. While living in Scotland, she was a professor of theater at Dumfries and Galloway College. Mrs. Fraser-Smith was very involved in local politics everywhere she lived. When she moved to Wantage, she continued that involvement with the Sussex County Democratic Committee. She believed in “contributing to this world” and always wanted to make a difference. Her favorite places to be were camping at Assateaque Island National Seashore in Maryland, living in Scotland with her beloved husband, Duncan, and her home on the lake in Wantage. Mrs. Fraser-Smith was an active church member of Unity of Sussex County in Lafayette and was involved with the historic Crescent Theater in Sussex. She was most proud of her family here in the US and in Scotland. She enjoyed cooking and baking for her friends and family and especially enjoyed having dinner parties and celebrations of every kind with her many friends. She is predeceased by her husband, Duncan and her brother, Albert Moeller. Mrs. Fraser-Smith is survived by her two sons, Mark Miller and his wife Betsy of Jamaica, Vermont and Bruce Miller and his wife Hui of Glen Spey, New York; her daughter, Leslie Coolong and her husband Ray of Wantage; her sister, Carol Gorman and her partner Frank Smith of Morehead, North Carolina; her grandchildren, Olivia Riccardi and her husband Joe, Tyler Miller and his wife Alex, Samantha Miller and her fiancé Christian, Jake Miller, Lucas Coolong and his fiancé Nicole, and Tristan Coolong; and her great granddaughter, Lena Grace Riccardi. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Unity of Sussex County, 25 Mudcut Road, Lafayette, NJ 07848. The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the compassionate staff at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice for all the wonderful care given to their mother during the past two months. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Frances’ memory to Karen Ann Quinlan Center of Hope Hospice, 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860. Private cremation services have been entrusted to the Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank Street (Route 23), Sussex. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.pinkelfuneralhome.com

Frances R. Fraser-Smith

April 16, 1937 - August 20, 2025