Frances A. (Santa Maria) Hughes, 93, of Haverhill, passed away peacefully April 17, at Hannah Duston Healthcare Center, Haverhill. She was born Aug. 3, 1923, in Boston, the daughter of the late Francisco and Mary (Zagami) Santa Maria.
Her father was a Sicilian immigrant to America and her mother was from Boston, where she spent her early years. In her youth she attended Boston schools and later married the late Walter P. Hughes. Hughes worked for years in retail as a sales representative and was employed with Howland’s Department Store in Methuen and Como’s Jewelry in Salem, N.H. After retirement she worked at the Memorial Hall Library in Andover. Hughes loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed having her grandchildren over to swim in the pool on hot summer days. She loved flowers, gardening, shopping, cooking for her family and had a special place in her heart for all animals, especially her beloved Chihuahua “Susie”. She was a lifelong resident of Andover, belonging to both the League of Women’s Voters and The Andover Garden Club. She later moved to Haverhill with her granddaughter Leah, where she enjoyed soaking up the sun in the backyard with two of her great-grandchildren.
Hughes is survived by two daughters, Mary Lou Noonan and husband John of Methuen and Stacey Hughes-Birch and husband Wayne of Andover, two sons, Walter Hughes and wife Kathleen of Tewksbury and Joel Hughes and wife Laura of Deerfield, N.H.; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life takes place Sunday April 23, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the family home located at 53 Highland Ave., Haverhill. Arrangements are in the care of the Grondin-Carnevale Funeral Home 129 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill.