Mary Jane Franco

MARY JANE FRANCO, 89, a longtime Greenwich resident, died peacefully on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, surrounded by her four daughters. Mary Jane was born on May 10, 1936, to her loving parents Marian and Edwin Pasha in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up with her two older brothers, Bill and Tom, living first in Michigan and later in Bronxville, NY and West Haven, CT. Mary Jane worked at McCann-Erickson in New York City before meeting the love of her life and husband of 44 years, Michael Franco. Together, Mary Jane and Michael settled in Greenwich, CT, where they raised their five daughters and built a life grounded in faith, family, and devotion to one another.

Mary Jane, known affectionately as “Mommy” to her daughters and “Granny” to her ten grandchildren, was the embodiment of quiet warmth and unwavering empathy. Her life was defined not by accolades or attention—both of which she gently avoided—but by the depth of her care and the steadiness of her presence. She was a letter-writer, card-sender, faithful phone caller, and the heartbeat of her family’s gatherings. For more than forty years, holidays at her home meant thirty or more people seated around her table—family by blood, family by friendship, all equally welcomed.

Her faith was the foundation of her life, a source of resilience through profound loss, including the passing of her daughter Christine and her husband Michael, both taken too early. Her belief was strong, humble, and sincere.

Mary Jane was a devoted presence at swim meets, water polo and lacrosse games, plays and dance recitals. Nothing brought her greater joy than her role as “Granny” to her beloved grandchildren: Madeline, Michael, Charlie, Spencer, Alex, James, Nicholas, Isabella, Hunter, and Wells. Each one was held in her heart with enormous pride and unconditional love.

Her legacy lives most vividly in the small, consistent acts that defined her: her gentleness, her genuine listening, her total absence of judgment, and her remarkable ability to make every person feel seen, valued, and welcomed. She leaves behind a family knit tightly together by her example of steady grace.

Mary Jane is survived by her daughters: Caroline and husband Stephen Graves and their children Madeline, Michael, and Charlie; Mary Rose and husband Karl Malchow and their children Nicholas and Isabella; Theresa and husband Matt Plavoukos and their sons Spencer, Alex, and James; Catherine and husband Casey Hartley and their children Hunter and Wells. She is also survived by extended family who loved her dearly. She was predeceased by her husband, Michael Franco; her parents, Edwin and Marian Pasha; her brothers, William and Thomas Pasha; her dear sisters-in-law, Regina Kriskey, Rose Franco, Maxine Pasha; and her daughter, Christine Franco.

Visiting hours will be held at Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home in Greenwich, CT on Monday, December 8, 4-8pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Mary Church on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, CT on Tuesday, December 9 at 10am. Flowers may be sent to the funeral home or donations can be made in Mary Jane’s honor to Blood Cancer United (formerly Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).