Obituary of Veronica Jean Frakes

Jean Frakes passed away January 22, 2024 in Albuquerque, New Mexico at
the age of 89. Jean was born in 1935 to Northern Irish immigrants, Mary
McVeagh (Devlin) and Joesph McVeagh in New York, New York. She spent her
childhood in Manhattan and the Bronx and had many colorful stories of
her childhood growing up in New York. Jean moved to Los Angeles,
California in 1953 to finish her high school education and started
college in Los Angeles, California in the early 1960’s. She meet her
husband, Larry Frakes, while attending college and working at UCLA.
During their marriage, Jean traveled throughout the world with her
husband and had many fond memories and stories about her travels, the
people she met and the many different cultures she encountered. Her
nieces and nephews fondly remember her many post cards and gifts from
places around the world. In 1969 her husband received a position with
the University of New Mexico and they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
After they divorced Jean remained in Albuquerque for the rest of her
life and truly loved the area.

Jean was politically active in the Women’s and Civil Rights Movements in
California and New Mexico. She worked for the University of New Mexico
in Albuquerque as the first director of the Women’s Studies Program from
1972 to 1979. After that she started her own accounting/bookkeeping/tax
business until her retirement.

Jean’s childhood growing up in the ethnically diverse communities of New
York, living through World War II and being involved in the Women’s and
Civil Rights Movement made a significant impact on her life and the
people she knew. Jean never stopped supporting and believing in human
rights, animal rights and our democratic processes. Jean also loved to
talk and have discussions with people. She had an incredible sense of
humor and loved telling stories and jokes.

Jean is preceded in death by her 2 sisters; Sally Marx (McVeagh) and
Mary Antonius (McVeagh), her nephews Richard Donadio and Karl Marx, and
niece Margaret Marx. She is survived by her nephew John Marx and nieces
Ann Marie Marx, Rosemarie Bousfield, Deirdre Antonius and Claire Hawker.
They all held a special place in Jean’s heart. Jean is also survived by
her closest friend, Margaret Quintana, whom she shared many adventures
and laughs together, and with the help of her husband Tony spent many
years looking out for and taking care of Jean as she aged in her home.

“May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rain fall soft upon your
fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his
hand”. She will be missed.