Beverly Holmgren Franchetti died Friday afternoon at her home in Plymouth following an 11-month battle with kidney cancer. She was surrounded by close family and her best friend.
She was born and grew up in the Campello section of Brockton, MA , and graduated from Brockton High School in 1964. She was married to Dario H. Franchetti II on August 28, 1965. They raised their children, Keith and Heather, in Scituate, MA. Bev began her career working in eye care when Heather and Keith were in school. Most notably, she worked for Eye Health Services, Inc. in Weymouth, then for Lambert Nielsen Eye Center. For the last several years, she has worked for Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America (ASCOA), which she joined near its inception. Her work has always played an important role in her life as she has enjoyed its challenges and because of the close friendships and associations she has formed in each of these settings. While holding these positions, she also professionally decorated several Eye Health offices and many ASCOA surgical centers across the country.
Her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends, and in particular, her granddaughter Maia. She loved road trips to Vermont, including August vacations at Eagle Camp on the banks of Lake Champlain. Beverly had a flare for life and a sense of style and pizzazz that was well known amongst her friends and family. As far as the objects of this world went, her pride and joy was her home in Plymouth, every square inch of which she redecorated and rearranged to her exacting standards. She loved stylish sports cars, her view of Plymouth harbor from her bedroom window, the beach, sunny weather, good music, shopping for that perfect piece (but getting it for a bargain), and a cold glass of white wine with friends and family. She was an avid Boston sports fan. And in her style of seizing the day, she managed squeeze in a trip to Italy this last summer with her two sisters and two nieces, creating lasting memories with each of them.
She was preceded in death by her father, Marcus A. Holmgren. She is survived by her mother, Marguerite Clark Holmgren, of Brockton, MA ; her son Keith Franchetti, daughter-in-law Kristeen Eliason, and granddaughter, Maia Xue Franchetti, all of Colchester, VT; her daughter, Heather Sargent and son-in-law Ralph Sargent of Halifax, MA; her brothers, Kenneth Holmgren of Fort Myers, FL; Ronald Holmgren (and Andrea) of W. Boxford, MA, and Alan Holmgren (and Emily) of Sandwich, MA; her sisters Brenda Lyman (and Kevin) of Bridgewater, MA, and Carole Saba of Bridgewater, MA; many dear nieces and nephews; and by her best friend, Margaret King of Duxbury, MA.
Calling hours will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 379 Gardner Street, Hingham, MA. Wednesday January 7, 2009 from 10:00-11:30, with a Memorial Service in her honor will be held at 11:30. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to one of the following: The Kidney Cancer Association, The Christopher Reeve Foundation, or The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. On line condolences may be made at www.richarddavisfuneralhome.com