Fannie Lillian Slone was born July 6, 1906, in New York City, the daughter of Morris and Jennie Slone. Her parents were both Russian immigrants, Morris having come to the United States in 1902, and Jennie (with older brother Joseph, born in 1902) followed in 1904.
By 1925 the family was living in Brooklyn, NY, where Morris was the proprietor of a stationery store. Fannie was a college student, and brother Joseph gave his occupation as "author." Both children had the advantage of a four-year college education.
Five years later they were living at 320 Albany Avenue, and Fannie was teaching in a public school, while Joseph was clerking for his father in the stationery store.
Fannie traveled to Europe in 1937, leaving New York City on July 12 on the great Cunard ocean liner the Queen Mary, bound for Southampton, England, "in transit to Leningrad." She spent about six weeks in Europe, returning from Cherbourg, France to New York City on August 28, 1937, this time traveling on the Berengaria. She arrived in New York on September 3, having spent six days at sea.
In 1940 the family was living in the Bronx at 2217 Starling Avenue. Fannie and brother Joseph were both still unmarried and lived with their parents. Joseph now worked as a manger in advertising, while Fannie was still teaching.
The 1950's saw Fannie making at least four trips to Europe; on August 24, 1951, after touring Europe she departed from Naples, Italy bound for New York City on the Italia, making a leisurely cruise that took thirteen days. Two years later, in July 1953, she left New York City on the Nea Hellas, bound for Piraeus, Greece. This time she planned to spend an entire year abroad. In June of 1956 Fannie once again left New York, planning to spend two months traveling in "Spain, France, and Italy." In 1959 she began travelling by air rather than steamship, and on September 2, 1960 she boarded a Pan-American Airlines flight in London...and got off in New York City without spending a week or more at sea.
Fannie Lillian Slone died on February 11, 1982, at Mt. Sinai West in New York City. She was buried on Hart Island April 19, 1984, more than two years after her death. Her brother Joseph Slone died on January 5, 1983, and is also buried on Hart Island.
Sources: US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; NY, State Census, 1925; 1930 and 1940 US Federal Censuses; NY, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960; US, Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1914-1966; NY State, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1966.