Frank E. Crowley

Retired Chelsea Firefighter, Frank Edgar “Grumps” Crowley of Malden, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He passed peacefully on March 29, 2023 at the age of 82. Frank was born in Brookline, MA in July of 1940 to parents George Warren Crowley and Annie Pearl (Musil) Crowley. The family later relocated to Anson, ME where Frank spent much of his youth on his sister’s farm. At the age of 17, Frank returned to the greater Boston area to reside in Chelsea, MA. Here, he met the love of his life, Carol Ann (Pitts) Crowley. Frank and his beloved Carol married on May 31, 1963 and later moved to Malden in 1973. The couple devoted their lives to raising three children: Donna, Pattie, and Frankie.

Frank had a great many occupations, but eventually found his true calling as a Firefighter in the Chelsea Fire Department. Here he served in the Great Chelsea Fire of October 1973, where he acted heroically. Frank and Carol’s home was ironically destroyed by another fire. Frank later rebuilt their home in Malden and eventually his happy place “the camp” in Anson, ME with the help of dear friends and family. Frank was a sophisticated, self-taught intellectual. His interests included: hunting, fishing, writing, geography, topography, philosophy, computers, debunking scientific theories such as the big bang, construction, and cooking for and spending time with those that he loved.

Frank is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Donna Marie (Crowley) Keene and husband, Rick Keene of Tewksbury; daughter, Patricia Anne (Crowley) Fitzgerald and husband, Edward Fitzgerald of Wilmington; and son, Frank Edgar Crowley and Melissa (Spadafora) Crowley of Haverhill. Beloved “Grumps” to Michael, Daniel, Mae, Jacob, Kayce, Chelsey, Mikara; and “Great Grumps” to Carson and Dru. Frank was preceded in death by his siblings: George Crowley, Jerry Crowley, Cynthia (Crowley) Donovan, Barbara (Crowley) Walker, Annie (Crowley) Nelson, and Tom Crowley. He will always be remembered for his love and admiration for Carol, his sarcasm, wit, delicious recipes, and relentless desire to continue learning.
Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend the Funeral from the Weir Mac Cuish Family Funeral Home, 144 Salem Street, Malden, on Tuesday, April 11 at 9:00AM. A Funeral Mass will follow at Sacred Hearts Parish, 297 Main Street, Malden at 10:00AM. Services will conclude with Interment in Forest Dale Cemetery, Malden.

Visiting hours will be held at the Weir Mac Cuish Family Funeral Home, on Monday, April 10 from 3-7PM. The funeral Home is fully handicap accessible, on and off-site parking is available. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Diabetes
Association.

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