Helen A. Franceschina, 72, of Mattapoisett, passed away Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, at Tufts Medical Center in Boston surrounded by her loving family, following a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of Louis Franceschina.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Peter and Paul; her sister, Anna May (John) Murtaugh; and several nephews and nieces. She was born in Albany, N.Y., in 1938 and grew up there. Her family had long ties to Mattapoisett, where she spent her summers as a child.
After high school, Mrs. Franceschina attended nursing school and graduated from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where she fell in love with her future husband. She raised her children in Columbia, Md., and brought them to Mattapoisett every summer. She was an avid sailor and loved the waters of Buzzards Bay.
Mrs. Franceschina worked as a nurse in various hospital settings, including public health. As her children grew older, she transitioned into working as a school nurse and elementary school teacher’s aide. She was an active quilter, enjoyed her many friends in a local Corvette club, and was dedicated to rescuing unwanted cats and finding homes for them through Cause for Paws in Mattapoisett.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, October 29th at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Mattapoisett, to be followed by an 11 a.m. remembrance celebration at the Kinsale Inn. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arthritis Foundation of Massachusetts, 29 Crafts St., Newton, Mass., 02458.