“Franny” Abraham
Name: "Franny" Abraham
Date of Passing: 05/25/2026
Message to "Franny" Abraham: I will miss Franny for the rest of my life, but I would do it all over again for my “once in a lifetime” cat.
Tell us about "Franny" Abraham: My parents helped me move to Gainesville Florida in August, 2010, when I was 24. I had been planning to adopt a cat once I was settled in, but the day they left, I found an adoption event at Petco, walked in, saw 3 backflipping kittens and one sound asleep. She was perfect. I immediately noticed her quiet stillness, which was exactly what my introverted soul must have needed.
I named her Francesca because I was in Florida to study Italian Renaissance Art, and I had recently watched the Bridges of Madison County. She became Franny soon after, as well as Francy Pants, Francine, and Franny Pie.
Her favorite thing was… me. She watched me from every vantage point you could imagine. She sat in my lap while I studied, watched TV, and she sat on the kitchen table with me while I ate my meals. We played with her dangly toys, which she famously dragged around and draped over me to let me know it was time to play.
After Florida, we moved to Kingston for my PhD, and she got new roommates, new apartments, and new friends. Eventually I completed my dissertation, with Franny in my lap (as ever) and supervising my revisions. She held the stacks of paper down while also supervising me print out 6 copies for my prestigious thesis examiners.
She was there when I taught Art History in Nova Scotia, where she especially enjoyed the wood stove. She would toast herself nearby, turning occasionally to catch the heat on a cooler part of her body.
After that, we moved back to the Chicago area. I adopted another cat Abby, met my husband Steve (and his amazing dog, Hitch), and we bonded over our love of animals - thank goodness, because I rejected every man with cat allergies or claimed to not be a “cat person.”
After we got married and established our little “pack”, Franny helped us welcome a few foster dogs with her characteristic dignity, vigilance, and respect. Everyone knew my lap was hers!
When it was clear Franny was very sick, our whole pack rallied around her. I caught a touching photo of a dog on either side of her and one laying on the floor in front of the couch, as Franny sat in the spot I usually occupy.
The days spent caring for her were filled with love, compassion, and surprising strength, as I reflected on the magnificent 16 years we had together. I wished for at least 20, but her body had its own timeline.
I’m so thankful we had those years, and I’m also thankful I had a few more days to pour love into her.
Everyone misses her, and she will live forever in our hearts.