Nora Franceschi

Nora “Cheski” Negron Franceschi was born on April 25, 1940 in San Juan, Puerto Rico to Candido Negron-Serrano and Emma Rios-Rivera. She grew up with her older brothers, Candido and Luis. During World War II, the family moved to New York. She enjoyed playing baseball with her brothers and cousins as a young child growing up in the Big Apple. It was that she would develop her love of sports - over the years her teams included the NY Yankees, Houston Astros, and the San Antonio Spurs. Her family would return to Puerto Rico where her father started the first English newspaper called "The Island Times."

Nora excelled in school and graduated from high school two years early, and then attended the University of Puerto Rico. At UPR, she took advantage of a special opportunity that allowed excelling students interested in medical school to transfer to Spain to attend Fonseca Medical School along with her brother Luis. While studying at Fonseca, she would meet Porfirio Franceschi, the love of her life. They shared their love of their homeland and culture of Puerto Rico, as Porfirio was from Yauco, PR. They were married on February 27, 1960 in Spain. Life moved very fast after that and they welcomed their first child, Emma Norie, within their first year as a newly married couple.

She made the ultimate sacrifice for their growing family and supported her husband as he finished medical school. This meant that she had to quit her own studies to go back home to San Juan and enter the workforce. After he finished medical school, Porifiro returned to Puerto Rico to rejoin Nora and Norie. While back in PR, the couple would welcome two more daughters, Frances Raquel and Diana Rebeca. To open more opportunities for their family, Porfirio joined the US Army. Eventually the family moved to San Antonio, where their son Jorge Ivan was born while Porfirio was stationed at Fort Sam Houston. It was in the Alamo City that the Framceschis planted their roots and bought a home. Nora made sure their children always had the best education even if she had to work multiple jobs as a divorced single parent raising the younger 3 on her own. She was resilient and versatile in the workforce and would go into telecommunications and had leadership roles in the companies she dedicated many years to. She was very proud that all four of her children earned a college degree. Her love of medicine and all of the sacrifices she made to prioritize their education inspired Norie, Frances, Diana and Ivan to pursue careers in medicine and education.

Throughout the years, she continued to support her children and their families, even moving to help with her grandchildren when her daughter and son-in-law were stationed in Okinawa, Japan with the US Navy. She moved to Norfolk, Virginia in 2004 after they relocated from their service in Japan. In 2008, they would all move to Concord, New Hampshire. In 2009, Porfirio was diagnosed with cancer. Nora moved with him to Houston to offer support and care through his cancer treatments. During those months together, they rekindled their love but, unfortunately he passed in 2010 before they could remarry.

In 2013, she faced her own diagnosis, but being the resilient woman that she was, Nora fought and overcame cancer with her family and close friends nearby supporting her. She inspired everyone with her faith during that difficult time. As a cancer survivor, she spent her days enjoying music, reading, cooking, and staying close and always connected with her family and dearest friends all over the world... Last year, cancer returned and again she bravely fought and overcame it with the grace of God by her side. It was the effects of such aggressive cancer treatments that took a huge toll on her body. She believed in God and talked of reuniting with the love of her life in heaven, along with her parents and all her loved ones who were waiting for her. She found peace and comfort in this during the last months. Her faith in the Lord was always very strong throughout her entire life, even at the end of her beautiful, brave story of resilience.

Nora Franceschi is survived by the couple's four children: Emma Norie Stenman, Dr. Frances Baccus, Diana Rebeca Dougherty, and Jorge Ivan Franceschi. Nora is also survived by her grandchildren: Edward Andrew Wheeler, Courtney Wake, Charlene Dobarganes, Emma Baccus, Caleb Baccus, Bryce Wake, Micah Baccus; and great grandson Waylon Dobarganes. She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Luis Negron, her nephew Alberto Negron, her niece Dely Ramos, and countless other cousins, nieces and nephews located all across the United States.