Frances R. Kangas

Frances Regina (Trojan) Kangas 1939-2019

Frances Regina (Trojan) Kangas, 80, of Lake Worth, Florida passed away Sunday, June 9,

2019. Frances was born on March 27, 1939 in West Orange, New Jersey to Henry Anthony

Trojan (1901-1951) and Fannie Scott Trojan (1902-1995).

Frances grew up in Cliffwood Beach - Keyport, New Jersey area near the Raritan Bay as a

young child where her entrepreneurial mother operated two notion shops, “Fan-Win Shop” and

“Fan’s Notion Shop” on W. Front Street before selling her business and re-opening a third store,

the “Fan & Gina” shop, with subsequent locations when the family relocated to the Lake Worth

area of Florida around 1950. Frances’ father, an electrician by trade, with deep Manhattan,

New York roots, was a former New Jersey, Madison Township Fire Commissioner, a life

member of the New Jersey Laurence Harbor Fire Department, and a former trustee to the

Fraternal Order of Eagles of Keyport. The family settled in the house that Henry built with his

own hands in Greenacres, Florida where he died shortly thereafter at the age of 50 when

Frances was only 12 years old. Frances attended Greenacres Elementary and Lake Worth High

schools.

In her earlier years, most called her by her middle name, Regina or “Gina”, and later she

preferred to be addressed by her first name, Frances. Most of her working years were spent in

the floral designing industry including an owned business called “Gina’s Flowers” where she

catered to the wedding industry. She was also a floral designing instructor for the Palm Beach

County Continuing Education Program.

Those who knew her knew that she had strong convictions and made sure that the world knew

about them. Her life was not without struggle and bravely persevered numerous hardships on

her own until today when the Lord took her to be in his arms to love her and keep her for eternal

life. She will be lovingly remembered.

Frances was the mother of four children, preceded in death by her daughter, Fannie Elizabeth

Krueser (March 1958 – May 1991). Survived by daughter, Alice Lowe (Keith) of Houston,

Texas, and sons, Raymond Anthony Griffith (Kimberley) of Lake Worth, Florida, and John Carl

Kangas and several grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

She loved animals so much that she was never hesitant to take in a stray and had the utmost

respect for the law enforcement community that she came to know through her son Raymond’s

30 + years of employment with the Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Department. In lieu of flowers,

please donate to one of these orgs:

Big Dog Ranch Rescue

14444 Okeechobee Blvd, Loxahatchee Groves, FL 33470

561.651.9147

https://bdrr.org/

Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association Charity Fund

(Donations are for scholarships for officers’ children)

2100 N Florida Mango Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33409

(561) 689-3745

https://pbcpba.org/