Margaret A. Francolino

Forestville - Margaret A. Francolino, beloved wife of 53 years of the late Joseph Francolino, died February 28 at Apple Rehab in Cromwell. She was the daughter of the late Manual and Lillian (Sachaklian) Atashian. Born July 27, 1918 in New Britain, Margaret graduated in 1936 from New Britain High School where she excelled in stenography. Margaret met Joseph Francolino where they worked at Corbin Screw Co. in New Britain. The couple married on June 29, 1942 in St. Ann?s Church in New Britain. Margaret and Joseph lived in New Britain where their two children, Barbara and Richard were born. The couple built a home in Newington in 1953 and resided there until moving to the Forestville section of Bristol in 1965.

Margaret was employed at Fafnir Bearing Co. in New Britain where she developed many friendships that continued well after her retirement in 1980. She was a member of the Bristol Senior Center and the A.A.R.P. in Plainville. She and her husband were volunteer drivers for the American Cancer Society, Margaret was known affectionately as, ?Maggie? by her brother, Herman, and son-in-law, Ron, ?Grammie Margaret? by her grandchildren and the family of John Gardner, nana to her five great-grandchildren, and ?Auntie Margaret? to her numerous nieces and nephews who regarded her with special fondness.

Margaret enjoyed motor trips with Joe along the east coast and air travel, of which she was not as fond, but bravely endured because flying brought her and Joe to such glorious destinations as Bermuda and Hawaii, Aruba and Las Vegas. Margaret loved to cook and hosted holiday gatherings with her brothers and sister when their children were young and and continued holding dinner parties into her 80s. Margaret?s hobbies included embroidery and tatting in her younger years, and crocheting afghans. She was an avid reader and could be found browsing the biography section of the Plainville Library. She was a generous and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and extremely thoughtful, visiting and sending cards to relatives and friends in the hospital and care facilities.

Margaret is survived by a son, Richard Francolino and wife, Cheryl, of Egypt; a daughter, Barbara Parent and husband Ron, of Southington; five grandchildren, Bryant Carpenter and wife, Colleen, of Portland; Christopher Carpenter and wife, Sharon of Medford, NJ; Laura Penta and husband, Louis, of Wellington, FL; Richard and Gregory Francolino, both of Virginia Beach; five great-grandchildren, Matthew and Katie Carpenter, Brady and Jake Penta and Laura A. Carpenter, and two brothers, Herman Atashian of New Britain and Charles Atashian of Southington. She was predeceased by a sister, Helen Sahadi.

Margaret also leaves her sister-in-law, Marie Gagliardi of New Britain, a brother-in-law Francis Franklin, a sister and brother-in-law, Ann and William Fischer, and a special cousin, Rose Dell, all of Wallingford and numerous nieces and nephews and a special nephew, John Amento of Jenson Beach, FL.

The family would like to express its appreciation to the staff at Apple Rehab who interacted daily with their warm and compassionate care of Margaret, especially Kristy, Irene, Allie, Renee, Maxine, Carmen and Robin.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 9 a.m. from the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 North Main St., Southington to St. Ann?s Church, New Britain at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, New Britain. Calling hours will be Friday from 5-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Ann?s Church, 47 Clark St., New Britain, 06051.