Obituary of Frances McHugh Coon

Frances McHugh Coon 

Frances McHugh Coon, 80, formerly of West Caldwell, died peacefully in her new home in Fairfield on August 11. 

Frances, or Fran as she was known to friends and “Nana Fran” to family, is survived by her son Mark Robins, his wife Kimberly, and their children, Gillian, William, and Krista; her son Stephen Robins, his wife Lauren, and their children Finley and Keller; her siblings Mary Ann, Eileen, Bernadette, Noreen, Patricia, and Terence; her step-granddaughter Shannon Coon and her husband Noah Goldberg; her step-grandson Sean Coon; her step-son Thomas Coon and his wife Carolyn; her step-son Michael Coon; her step-daughter Kathy Coon; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Fran was predeceased by her beloved husband Walter Coon and her brother James McHugh. 

Fran was born November 2, 1943 to Terence and Mary (Donlon) McHugh and was raised in Bloomfield, NJ. After graduating from Our Lady of the Valley High School in Orange, NJ, Fran attended St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Paterson, NJ and began her 50+ year healthcare career as a staff nurse in the Emergency department at St. Joseph’s Hospital. 

Fran married Sanford Robins in 1967 and after the birth of sons Mark and Stephen began working as a staff nurse at Mountainside Hospital in Glen Ridge, NJ, where she became Head Nurse in the Emergency Department in 1978 and, ultimately, Administrative Director for Emergency Services. In that role, Fran coordinated the successful launch of the tri-county Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU), a highly successful program that allows for the administration of advanced life saving techniques outside the hospital setting and that continues to serve and support communities to this day. 

Fran left Mountainside briefly to serve as Office Administrator for Montclair Orthopedic Group and earned her BS degree in business before returning to Mountainside as Manager, Physician Support Services. In 2004, Fran helped launch the institution’s highly successful Center for Advanced Bariatric Surgery and subsequently served as the center’s manager until her retirement. 

Fran and Sanford divorced in 1981, and in 1990, she married Walter Coon with whom she shared a loving marriage until his passing in 2017. 

Fran’s proud Irish heritage was on display in her home and her community. She previously served as Deputy Grand Marshall of the Nutley St. Patrick’s Day parade and was honored by Division 9 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1990. Frances was an active member of the Women of Irish Heritage in North Jersey. 

Ever the New Jersey ambassador, Fran relished her leisure time at the Jersey Shore, was a vocal advocate for local restaurants and produce markets, and was well-known for gifting Jersey corn and Jersey tomatoes to family and neighbors. Her greatest pleasure was spending quality time with her grandchildren, sisters, nieces and nephews; and sharing ice cold martinis with her sons. 

Fran was a strong woman with strongly held opinions that she shared frequently and unapologetically. She will be missed by all who knew her – even those who did not share her opinions. 

Visiting hours are Sunday, August 18 from 3pm to 7pm at the Moriarty Funeral Home in Montclair. The funeral will be held at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Roseland on Monday, August 19 at 10:30am with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Frances Coon to Doctors Without Borders (www.doctorswithoutborders.org).