Marion Francis

January 15, 1928 - April 2, 2025

Marion A. (Drew) Francis was born on January 15, 1928 in Fairfield Maine, the third child of Clyde and Gladys Drew. Her family moved to Houlton, ME, shortly thereafter, where Marion attended school, graduating in 1945 from Houlton High School. Marion was proud of the fact that she never pumped an ounce of gas in her life, no small feat considering her family ran a gas station and small store. She would call her father back from his dinner break if someone needed gas, lest some local boys saw her in that undignified endeavor.

Marion moved to Boston in 1945 to continue her education at Fisher Secretarial School, earning a 2-year degree as a medical transcriptionist. It is in Boston that she met the love of her life, Paul R. (Mickey) Francis. They were married on December 28, 1950, in Houlton, ME, on a day when the temperature was -25 when they exited the church. It seemed to get colder as the years went on.

Marion moved often in the early years of their marriage as her husband's work required, living in Framingham, Natick, Leverett, Sagamore Beach and Hopedale MA, where she raised her children, then in Uxbridge, MA before moving back to Hopedale to Atria Draper Place. Although generally of a sweet disposition, it was there that one of the staff, informed of her family nickname "Sunny," remarked "I'm not really seeing it, Mark." She is survived by her children - Nowell Francis and his wife Joanne of Templeton MA, Andrea Francis Garrett of Suffolk VA, Mark Francis and his wife Kathleen of Uxbridge MA, and her daughter Gael Harden and her husband Thom of Calverton NY.

She also had 7 grandchildren, Matthew, Andrew, Jacqueline, John, Meghan, Caitlin and Shannon and 3 great grandchildren, Benjamin, Edward and Hunter. She was pre-deceased by her husband Paul (Mickey) Francis in 2004, and by her brothers Paul and Clyde Drew, and her sister Doris Herre.

Marion worked part time when her kids were in school, at The Woman's Store on Main St. in Milford, WMRC radio in Milford in the 70's, and at Milford Hospital in the billing office in the 80's.

As befitting someone who lived such a long life, she was known by many names over the years - Maggie to her mom, Sunny to friends and family, Auntie M to some, Minnie to others, Mom to four, and finally Grammy. Starting in the mid 1990's she worked one day a week for Meals on Wheels up until she was 90, helping get meals ready for the "old people." She had a great sense of humor and a wonderful laugh that will be sorely missed. She was a loyal and fierce defender of her loved ones and friends, and a terrific cribbage player, beating her son Mark in the last game she ever played.

Rest in peace Mom.

There will be a private service at the Veteran's Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts and a Celebration of Life at a later date.