Elizabeth Ann Giannini Franceschini's Obituary
Elizabeth Ann Franceschini passed peacefully from this life at home on August 25, 2014, just six months before her 90th birthday and on her husband’s 92nd birthday. She was born in Memphis, TN to Peter and Giuliva Giannini, who were from Lucca, Italy, on her father’s 34th birthday February 24, 1925. Mrs. Franceschini attended St. Patrick grade school and graduated in 1943 from St. Agnes Academy. On September 5, 1949 she married Louis Franceschini, Jr. Her death was 10 days shy of their 65th wedding anniversary.Mrs. Franceschini was a communicant of St. Paul Catholic Church for over 40 years. A devout Catholic and woman of strong faith, she was an active in Mother Cabrini Circle organization at St. Paul, whose mission is to support the poor and less fortunate by providing food, clothing and monetary support to those in need.Her parents instilled a strong work ethic and like most Italian families were small business owners. As a child, she worked in her father’s feed store and ice cream parlor. A strong family, a thriving business, unwavering faith in God and active support of the church were measures of a successful and happy life. Mrs. Franceschini was successful during her life. She stayed focused on service to God and her church, service to her family and support of the family business working in her husband’s grocery store.She was a reserved and humble woman with a beautiful smile, a jovial, dry wit who always had plenty of food at the ready for whomever happened to drop over unexpectedly. She and her husband lived in their home in Whitehaven, until 2012, when they joined other active seniors at Ave Maria Assisted Living.She was preceded in death by her son, Mark Franceschini and brothers, John Giannini (Frances), Paul Giannini (Marie) and Angelo Giannini all of Memphis, TN. She is survived by her husband, Louis Franceschini, Jr.; children, Louis Franceschini, III of Memphis, TN, Ralph Franceschini of Los Angeles, CA and Rita Coughlin (Linus) of Eads, TN; sister-in-law Gloria Giannini; eight nieces and nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. with a rosary at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 28 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 1425 E. Shelby Drive, Memphis, TN 38116. A funeral mass will be held there at 10 a.m. Friday, August 29. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Mother Cabrini Circle organization c/o St. Paul Catholic Church, 1425 E. Shelby Drive, Memphis, 38116 or Ave Maria, 2805 Charles Bryan Road, Bartlett, Tennessee 38134.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, “Behind the Stone Wall.”
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