Frances Wolak, 92, of Wayne, formerly of Clifton, passed away on May 13, 2023. Born in Passaic she lived in Clifton for much of her adult life, and then in Deal, NJ before moving to Wayne in 2018. A parishioner of St. Paul's RC Church, Clifton, Fran was a teacher for the Clifton Board of Education for 45 years, retiring in 1997. She was a gifted educator and taught math and science at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Fran earned a BS degree in physics and math from Fordham University, and a MA in K-12 education from William Paterson College. She began her career at ITT Science Labs working in the development of television technology.

Fran was a member of the St. Paul's Rosary Society, the Township of Ocean Historical Museum, and the Deal Woman's Club, as well as a catechist at St. Michael's Parish in Long Branch. She was the beloved wife for over 50 years of the late Joseph Wolak, who passed away in 2003. Fran was a devoted mother of Mary Carol Kendzia and her husband Tom of Westerly, RI; Joseph Wolak and his wife Lindsey of Wayne; Paula Wolak and her husband Tom Mortensen of Nashville, TN; John Wolak and his wife, Caryn, of New Providence; Dr. James Wolak and his wife Dr. Jennifer Bragg of Falmouth, ME; and the late Barbara Wolak who passed away in 1974. She was the loving grandmother of Carolyn Tom and her husband Chris, Glenn Kendzia and his wife Jamie Thornton, Victoria Freeman and her husband Charles, Julia Munfakh and her husband Matthew, and Valerie, Michael, Cathryn, Charles, and Annika Wolak. She was the cherished great-grandmother of Miles, Norah, and Anna.

Visitation is Thursday, 4-8 PM at the Shook Funeral Home, 639 Van Houten Ave., Clifton. Funeral Friday, 8:15 AM at the funeral home and 9:30 AM at St. Paul's RC Church, Clifton. Interment, Calvary Cemetery, Paterson.