Lena Francis, 92, of New Bedford died Saturday December 28, 2013 at Hathaway Manor.
Born in Westport, the daughter of the late Jesse and Mary (Ponte) Francis, she lived in Tiverton, RI before moving to New Bedford.
She was a graduate of Westport High School, Class of 1939. She graduated from Salem State College with a Bachelor of Science degree and Boston University with a Master of Education degree.
Lena was formerly employed as a secretary for General Electric in Lynn. Later she began a teaching career in Dartmouth Public Schools, mainly at the Crapo and Potter Schools. After several years of teaching in Dartmouth, she became a remedial reading teacher in the Tiverton schools. She was later promoted to the position of reading supervisor in Tiverton.
She was an avid gardener and loved to attend art exhibits.
She leaves her sister-in-law, Wanda Francis of New Bedford; her companion of many years, Dr. Walter Smietana of New Bedford; two nieces, Lisa M. Wethington of Fairhaven and Cynthia Parman of Zachary, LA; three nephews, Peter J. Francis of Taunton, Christopher J. Francis of New Bedford, and Charles Francis of Brewster; and great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was the sister of the late Mary Ridley, Charles Francis, Amelia Jaworski, Anne Bogan, Alice Parman, Beatrice Francis, and Dr. James F. Francis.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 9 AM at St. Mary's Church, Tarkiln Hill Rd. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday morning from 7:30-8:30 AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Kennedy-Donovan Early Intervention Center, 19 Hawthorn St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.