Nancye Lenora Franco

Our beloved mother, Nancye L. Franco, born May 21, 1948, passed away on November 23, 2021 surrounded by family and words of love.

Nancye was the embodiment of sunshine and faith. Her contagious cheerfulness and positive spirit were a constant encouragement to all who knew her. She followed Jesus faithfully and graced this earth 73 years before joining her mother, father and brother in Heaven along with many other family members who have gone before.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Robert Franco, along with her 5 children (Shawn, Krista, Kara, Seth and Robbie) and their spouses who she treated as her own (Sara, Leon, Mike, Christina and Michelle). Her legacy of faith and love also lives on in her 17 grandchildren.

She was born, in Virginia, the youngest of two children to Wendall and Ethel Hodges. Growing up, playing neighborhood sports with her older brother, Wendy, gave Nancye a quiet self-confidence. Her father's kind, sweet and gentle spirit combined with his love for Scripture impacted her life deeply!

At Evangel College, she met her forever sweetheart, the man who would become her lifelong partner in marriage, parenting, and ministry.

She would be by his side through pastoring churches in Long Island, Brooklyn, and Richmond. Her church family in Richmond, “The Church At Richmond”, was a source of great joy and blessing in her life even to her last days here on earth. Nancye loved being involved at church in women's ministries, teaching Sunday school, directing children's Christmas musicals and playing the piano for services on Sunday mornings. She was a classically trained pianist who would offer free piano lessons to children at church. She also co-led elementary school chapel worship for years.

She always wanted a big family full of love and laughter, and together she and Bob lived out that dream. She insisted on a house big enough for plenty of room for the family to be together, and she loved to cook big meals for family! Her specialties included chocolate chip pancake breakfasts and Italian chicken cutlets for dinner.

While her life work was her family, she also juggled a long career in teaching at River Avenue Elementary in East Patchogue, NY (4 years), Smithtown Christian School in Smithtown, NY (15 years) and Ecoff Elementary School in Chester, VA (13 years). She was a talented teacher who was dedicated to her students and had a special passion for working with English as a second language students. Hundreds of students and their families were loved, nurtured and forever blessed by the way she lived out her calling. After school, she would constantly be spotted in the bleachers cheering for her kids during their high school sports games.

She eventually retired from teaching to enjoy being a full-time grandma and pastor's wife. She was heavily involved in supporting the grandkids however she could, including

attending sport games, dance recitals and even becoming an avid fantasy football fan, whose team was aptly named Gama's Bears!

Her husband, Bob, faithfully cared for her day and night throughout her sickness and never left her side even in the midst of her final moments on earth. She kept her faith and joy in Jesus all that time and continued to speak blessing and hope to all of the loved ones who visited her. She finished well, full of faith, hope and love.

To know Nancye was to know these things:

· She was versatile. She lived with grace and extended forgiveness! She didn't care about your social status or your past background, she wanted to treat you as family!

· She was happy to be behind the scenes but was always willing to do whatever needed to be done.

· She was a chronic back seat driver!

· She was an avid dog lover and pet mom to Happy, Socs, Abby, and Rae Rae to name a few.

· Her best friend Maddie would tell you she loved Jesus and bragging on her family!

· When she got tickled by a funny story, she would often have to fight tears of joy!

· She was a lover of coffee and biscotti.

· She had the world's neatest handwriting and a flair for underlining and exclamation points to all her messages and cards.

· She was constantly cleaning and organizing the house.

· She would say that her greatest accomplishment is that all of her kids are walking with Jesus!

We don't know how she did it all, but we are so thankful for her unconditional love and support! As she looks down on us from Heaven now, we can just hear her constantly bragging to the angels about her kiddos and grandkids! She was a constant advocate and caring heart! We will always hear her cheering us on! We will forever be impacted by her love!

A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, December 12th at 3pm at Cornerstone Assembly of God, 10551 Chalkley Rd, North Chesterfield, VA 23237. A fellowship meal will follow.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to "The Church at Richmond", 2003 Roane Street, Richmond, VA 23222, marked in the memo for "Nancye Franco Benevolence Fund." Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .