Frances “Fran” Mount, 83, of Burlington, Vt., died suddenly at home on October 1, 2026.
Born on December 19, 1942, in Lynn, Mass., to Robert and Paula Smith, Fran was raised in Concord, N.H. She graduated from St. John’s High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Marquette University in 1964.
Fran began her career in communications with New England Telephone Company and later moved to San Francisco, where she worked for Golden Gate University. There she met her future husband, David Mount. They married in May 1967 and together embarked on a life filled with travel, family and entrepreneurial success.
Fran and Dave welcomed five children: Stephen, James, Robert, Richard and Kristin. After living in California, North Carolina and Montréal, the family settled in Burlington in 1982. Together Fran and Dave built a successful Westaff staffing business that eventually grew to eight offices across Vermont, New York and New Hampshire. Fran retired in 2008 after 26 years in the staffing industry, leaving behind countless friends, colleagues and employees who admired her.
Faith, family and music were central to Fran’s life. Following a Marriage Encounter weekend in 1974, she and Dave spent nearly four decades helping other couples strengthen their marriages through faith, communication and community. Since moving to Burlington, the Mounts were active members of St. Joseph’s Cathedral Parish, serving both as a lector and a member of the folk band. In retirement, Fran and Dave would sing together every day. Following her 2020 double knee replacement, she could be found at the gym daily.
Fran cherished Vermont’s beauty and seasons, spending summers between her Burlington home and the family camp in Alburgh, where Sundays often began with outdoor Mass at St. Anne’s Shrine and ended with gorgeous sunsets. Vermont winters are tough, but Fran and Dave eased them with annual vacations to Cancún and Saint Martin and two weeks each February volunteering on Rotary projects in Honduras.
She was predeceased by her son Stephen in 2011, as well as her parents and parents-in-law.
Fran is survived by her husband of 59 years, David; children James (Kelly), Robert (Beth), Richard (Julie) and Kristin (Tony Ferraro); Stephen’s widow, Karen; 16 grandchildren: Christopher (Allie), Britt, Jacob, Ryan, Joe (Morgan), Andi, Daniel, Jaida Luck, Thomas, North, Sami, Phineas, Avery McCourt, Aryana, Gage Ferraro and Brynn Ferraro; four great-grandchildren: Winn, Arthur, Luca and Weston; sister-in-law Pam Stewart; nephew Philip; grandniece Keira; and many extended family members outside the state. She took great pride in seeing her children build happy and successful lives in Vermont.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m., at Ready Funeral Home on Shelburne Road in Burlington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 15, 2026, 10 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Burlington, followed by burial at Resurrection Park in South Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Anne’s Shrine in Isle La Motte, Vt.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To share memories, photos and condolences with the family, please visit readyfuneral.com.
This article appears in October 7 • 2026.