Obituary of Fran Columbus

FRAN B. COLUMBUS 1956-2012 Fran B. Columbus, age 56 of Wimauma, Florida, former longtime Capital District resident died unexpectedly on Thursday, May 31, 2012 at her Florida home. Born in Catskill, NY, Fran was the daughter of the late Arthur E. Greenberg and Ida Rosen Greenberg. She was a graduate of St. Ann's Institute in Albany and received an associate's degree from Russell Sage College. Fran had been employed by SPARC, affiliated with St. Peter's Hospital as an alcohol counselor and had also been employed at several other alcohol treatment centers in the area. At one time she had been the director of Hill House in Colonie. Fran had also worked as a bank teller at the former State Bank of Albany in Stuyvesant Plaza and was involved with her family business's, House of Brownstein in Troy and Arthurs Pipe Shop formerly on New Scotland Avenue and Central Avenue in Albany. She enjoyed spending time at the beach and shopping and was a friend of Bill W. Fran will be remembered as a loving, caring person who always tried to help others at their time of need. Fran is survived by her dedicated husband of 23 years, Rob Columbus, and was the loving Mother of Eric Finn of Slingerlands, NY, Rachel Finn of Madeira Beach, Florida, Adam LaBarr of Guilderland, NY and Matthew Columbus of Albany, NY. She was the beloved sister of Gary A. Greenberg ( Maria G. Walski) of Valatie, NY. Fran also leaves several cousins, aunts and uncles. Services at the Levine Memorial Chapel, 649 Washington Avenue in Albany on Monday, June 4, 2012 at 1:00pm. Interment will follow in the Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Schenectady, NY. Those wishing to remember Fran in a special way may make a memorial contribution to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004. or a charity of your choice.