Francis (Fran) Kieras

Francis Joseph "Fran" Kieras

December 10, 1932 – July 29, 2026

For Francis Joseph "Fran" Kieras, home wasn’t merely a place to live; it was the place he belonged.

Francis Joseph "Fran" Kieras was a lifelong Danbury resident whose ninety-three years were defined by faith, family, heart, service to both his community and country, and a certain unforgettable charisma. He passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord on July 29, 2026, at his home in Danbury, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply. At his bedside were his beloved wife of sixty-seven years, Sonia; their five children; his sons-in-law; and his cherished grandchildren.

Born at home on Prospect Street on December 10, 1932, Fran spent nearly his entire life in the city he loved. Raised in the heart of Danbury's historic Hat City, he was the son of Peter S. Kieras, Sr. and Anna (Dulski) Kieras. He attended Sacred Heart School, Henry Abbott Technical School, and Danbury High School, graduating with the Class of 1951. His yearbook described him as someone "always ready with a witty remark," a description that remained true throughout his life. His warmth, humor, and genuine kindness made people feel welcome wherever he went.

Fran was one of Danbury's outstanding young athletes, excelling in both baseball and basketball. Shortly after graduating from Danbury High School, he signed a professional baseball contract with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics organization as a third baseman. Before that dream could begin, the call to serve his country arrived. During the Korean War, he entered the United States Air Force, serving as Barracks Chief and Squadron Physical Training Instructor before being assigned to the Third Bombardment Wing in South Korea. He completed his active-duty service as an Airman First Class and continued afterward in the Air Force Reserve.

After returning home, Fran met Sonia Augusewicz at the Danbury War Memorial recreation center. They were married on June 20, 1959, beginning a loving partnership that lasted more than sixty-seven years. They raised five children and built a home on Sheridan Street where faith, family, hospitality, and unconditional love formed its foundation.

Professionally, Fran held management positions with Castro Convertibles, Danbury Building & Lumber Supply, and Danbury Centerless Grinding. Although respected for his leadership, his integrity, professionalism, and genuine warmth earned the trust and respect of everyone who worked with him. When Castro relocated to Florida, he chose to remain in Danbury, the community where his roots, his family, and his heart belonged.

Service was the thread that connected every chapter of Fran's life. For more than twenty years, he coached Sacred Heart School and CYO basketball, officiated baseball, softball, and basketball, served as President of the Danbury War Memorial, worked with the Richter Park Authority, and faithfully served as a Danbury Constable for more than thirty years until his retirement in 2023 at the age of ninety-one. Throughout his life, he remained active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Catholic War Veterans, the Korean War Veterans Association, and MIA Forget-Me-Nots.

His Catholic faith guided everything he did. A lifelong parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Fran served over the years as an altar server, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, usher, Parish Council member, and devoted volunteer. In 2018, he and Sonia were awarded the St. Augustine Medal by the Diocese of Bridgeport in recognition of their decades of faithful service to the Church.

Those who knew Fran remember more than his accomplishments. They remember his smile, his hearty laugh, his quick wit, and the kindness and respect he extended to everyone he met. Generations of children at Sacred Heart affectionately knew him as "The Candy Man" because he always had a Fruit Roll-Up, a Presidential dollar coin, and a story to share. He believed every child deserved encouragement, every veteran deserved gratitude, every neighbor deserved respect, and every day was another opportunity to serve.

He took pride in his home and lawn and enjoyed gardening with Sonia, reading history, golfing, fishing, earning his private pilot's license, spending time in Old Saybrook, and, above all, being with his children and grandchildren. Through quiet example, he taught his family that integrity is built on keeping promises, that faith belongs in everyday life, and that a meaningful life is measured by how faithfully one loves and serves others.

Fran is survived by his beloved wife, Sonia (Augusewicz) Kieras; his children, Joseph Kieras and his wife, Kathy Kieras; Karen Settipane and her husband, Russell Settipane; David Kieras; Matthew Kieras and his wife, Julie Kieras; and Suzanne Palanzo and her husband, Neil Palanzo; his beloved grandchildren, Jackson, Dakota, Leah, Davis, Calvin, Asher, and Everest; together with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, dear friends, former players, fellow veterans, and parishioners.

He was predeceased by his parents, Peter S. Kieras, Sr. and Anna (Dulski) Kieras; his brother, Peter S. Kieras, Jr.; and his sister, Jane (Kieras) Walkovich.

Danbury was more than the place where Fran lived. It was the community he loved, the family he built, the faith that guided him, and the place where he was happiest. His life reminds us that greatness is measured not only by achievement, but by integrity, how deeply one loves others, and how deeply one is loved.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Danbury.

The family will receive friends at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on Tuesday morning from 9:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., immediately preceding the Funeral Mass.

Interment will take place at the convenience of the family.

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