Alice F. Franceschetti

1945 - 2024

Alice F. Franceschetti, 78, died on June 18, 2024, in Memphis, Tennessee, after a short illness.

"Mrs. Fran" as she was affectionately known to her students, was born on July 28, 1945 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Dewey and Priscilla Frizzell. She is survived by three sons: James M. ("Skip") Hamlett, IV, Charles D. Hamlett (Jenni) and Carson G. Hamlett and two grandsons, Charles D. Hamlett Jr. and William J. Hamlett. She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Donald R. Franceschetti, and her younger brother Edward P. Frizzell.

Alice graduated from Munford High School in 1963 and received a Bachelor of Science from Memphis State University in 1967. She started her teaching career in 1968 at the Katherine Delman Burke School for Girls in San Francisco, and after moving to Memphis, Tennessee, to start a family, attended graduate school and received a Master of Science from Memphis State in 1978. She resumed her teaching career in 1981 at Auburndale High School before moving to Memphis University School in 1984 to teach AP Biology, Biology, and Physical Chemistry. While at MUS, she founded the chess club and served as its initial "Head Coach". Mrs. Fran continued her career at the Hutchinson School for Girls from 1993 to 1997 before finishing her full-time teaching career at St. Mary's Episcopal School. During her career, Alice was recognized by Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society for excellence in research in 1983 and again in 1995, and by the National Association of Biology Teachers for excellence in teaching in 1994. She also had the honor of grading AP Biology exams on multiple occasions.

Alice was a Master Gardner and served as President of the Kirby Woods Garden Club. She was also an accomplished quilter, and until recently, frequently taught quilting classes and traveled to quilting conferences across the Southeast. Alice was a member of Germantown Presbyterian Church, where she enjoyed participating in the choir.

A memorial service celebrating Mrs. Fran will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Germantown Presbyterian Church with a reception to follow onsite.

Always supportive of research, Alice has donated her body to science and will be buried in Elmwood Cemetery next to Don at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.