Francis X. Kernan
Died peacefully at his home on Saturday, January 7, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Fran was born in Camden, NJ in 1932, the fifth of ten children to Margaret and Eugene Kernan. He moved to Westmont, NJ at the age of ten, a town he called home for the remainder of his life.
Fran attended Holy Savior Elementary School, Camden Catholic High School, Rutgers University, and Colby College. He joined the United States Merchant Marines in 1949 and served during the Korean War. He was an avid traveler and what started as a trip to the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics turned into 20 years spent abroad. All the while, Fran journaled and sent letters home detailing his adventures. During his travels, he worked many jobs, including as an English teacher in Japan and Mexico, a ski lift operator in Europe, and a hotel manager in Rhodesia, to name a few. Fran spoke five languages. His travels took him across the entire United States and six continents.
After meeting at Compton’s Log Cabin and years spent traveling together, Fran and Catherine were married in Greenwich, England on October 20, 1977. They were blessed with five children and 12 grandchildren.
Fran was self-employed, founding Norwood Industries in 1989, and eventually transitioned the business to his son, Francis X. Kernan, Jr. when he retired at age 88.
Fran was a lifelong athlete. He was an avid golfer, skier, surfer, and tennis player. He loved his walks around town which often ended or included a stop at PJ’s or the Pour House.
Blessed with an abundance of family, friends, and Irish luck, Fran lived 91 great years. We are comforted to know Fran is reunited in heaven with his parents and eight siblings.
Beloved husband of 45 years to Catherine Kernan (Daniels). Dear father of Megan (Philipp) Hunold, Siobhan (Jonathan) Carrera, Francis X. (Krista) Kernan, Jr., Eugene (Jill) Kernan, and Nora (Gabriel) Poulides. Loving grandfather of Zoey Poulides, Lukas Hunold, Elle Hunold, Brayden Kernan, Jack Kernan, Benjamin Kernan, Genevieve Carrera, Constantine Poulides, Cora Carrera, Daniel Kernan, Alexandria Poulides, and Theodore Poulides. Fran is also survived by and will be sadly missed, by his sister, Brigid Kernan, as well as his sister-in-law, Brenda Kernan, and brother-in-law, William Fynes. He was predeceased by his siblings: Msgr. Eugene, Jack (Josephine), Agnes (Robert), Larry, Joan, Patrick (Jeanette), Terrance, and Bernadette.
A visitation will be held at Kain-Murphy funeral home (Haddonfield, NJ) Friday, January 13, 2023, from 6:30-9:00 pm. Saturday, January 14, 2023, a visitation will be held at Holy Saviour Church (Haddon Township, NJ) beginning at 9 am with a Mass to follow at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, charitable donation’s in Fran’s name may be made to the Salvation Army or the Maryknoll Missionaries.