Obituary for
Iris L.M. Franco
Iris Lily Marie Bearman Franco, a resident of The Oaks at Pleasant Gap, died October 3, 2017.
Born May 27, 1921, she was raised and educated in Braintree, Essex, England. She was employed at Courtaulds Textile Labs, and during WW II, met Peter Franco, then serving with the 12th Evacuation Hospital, U.S. Army. They married April 27, 1944, and she was one of the first “War Brides” to sail to America on the Queen Mary.
Iris raised her children in Astoria, Queens, NY. She was employed as a bookkeeper, Girl Scout leader, and served as a teacher’s assistant in the local public schools in Queens.
In 1974, Iris and her husband retired to a home in Houserville where she served as a volunteer in the schools, a Brownie troup, V.I.P.S. and 4H. She was also very active at the Senior Center. An avid reader, Iris loved flowers, gardens and the outdoors. Known for her outstanding needlework, she continued to knit well into her 90s and her infant sweaters and children’s mittens were treasured gifts to family and friends, and donated to charitable causes.
Preceded in death by her sister, Lorna Corbett; husband Peter, son Jeffrey and daughter Dorothy Franco, she is survived by several nieces and nephews in the U.S. and in England.
Interment at Centre County Memorial Park will be private. A memorial service and reception for family and friends will be held on November 2, 2017 at 2:00 pm at The Oaks. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Oaks, 200 Rachel Drive, Pleasant Gap, PA 16823. An online guestbook may be signed and condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com
