Julia Rios-Franco

Julia Rios-Franco, 83, of Hartford, passed away peacefully with her children by her side on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Julia was born on January 31, 1942 to the late Dolores Rios and Gregoria Franco in Puerto Rico. Julia was an extraordinary woman who was strong and selfless woman and put everyone's needs above her own. She was an incredible cook who often showed her love to her family and friends by her amazing talents in the kitchen. Her food and cooking were a way to bring people together and that was evident through all of the Sunday dinners she would host. Julia loved her daily lotto, gardening and her trips to the dollar store where she could shop for hours. She was also the heartbeat of our community/building. In her own way, she became "La Gobernadora del Building," the one everyone turned to for advice, comfort, or simply a laugh. Her home was a place where friends and neighbors gathered to share stories, offer support, and enjoy each other's company. Mom had an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel valued, as though they were part of something bigger. Above all, Julia loved her family more than anything else. Her eleven children and her abundance of grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life and she will be missed dearly. Julia will be missed by her children, Lourdes Villaroel, Janet Reyes, Yolanda Rios, Jose Reyes, Lorencita Casillas, Antonia Casillas, Leticia Rivera, Rosalyn Torres, Alexandra Favale, Franchesca Rivera and Michael Rivera. She will also be missed by her twenty-nine grandchildren and thirty-one great-grandchildren, her siblings, and her best friend of over thirty years, Puri. Friends and family may call on Julia's family on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 from 9:00am to 12 Noon at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 1:00pm in the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, 140 Farmington Ave. Hartford, CT. Burial to follow in Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Road, Bloomfield. Julias family would like to give a special thanks to the caregivers at Rainbow Healthcare, Johanny, Flor, Juana, Dinora, Andrea and Ameilia and her Dr. M. Nafees, Dr. Elwan and Dr. Vichol for their compassion and care towards their mother. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Julia, please visit our floral store.