Lilian May Hayday Franklin

Lilian May Franklin(Hayday) of Cape Coral, FL passed away peacefully on April 10, 2015. She was a cheerful, loving and caring Christian women. She always tackled life with that British “stiff upper lip”. The love she gave as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend was very special. She always had a smile for everyone she met.

Lily was born in London, England on November 21, 1934 to Frances and Lilian Hayday. She was evacuated out of London to Reading, England, during WWll. She attended school until she was 15 years old. After leaving school, she worked for Holder and Farrell repairing oil coolers for British bombers. She met her husband, Vernie Franklin, an airman in the Air Force, when she was 21 years old. She and a friend were waiting to see a show in the East End. Vernie ask her for a date and there the romance began. She left her family in England and came over to the United States. Vernie and Lily got married in Lovington, Illinois, on March 25, 1957. She and Vernie were stationed in Illinois, Arkansas, England, North Carolina, and Ohio. She and Vernie moved to Cape Coral, FL in 1993 to be near family and escape the cold. While raising her family Lily was a cub scout leader, creative seamstress and wonderful cook. She also completed night school to learn floral arranging. She was always up for a good game of Scrabble, she loved to read and downloaded many books on her new lap-top. Lily was a fabulous, online, Word-osarus player, and, she loved to stay in touch with her many friends on Facebook.

Lily was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Coral.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Lilian, her sister Jean, and her brother Francis.

Lily is survived by her husband of 58 years, Vernie, her daughter Lynette Carwana and her husband Dave, her sons, Francis Franklin and his wife Ana, and Mike Franklin.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Brandy Franklin, Britni Johnson, Jennifer Welsch, Traci Carwana, Carson Franklin and her bonus granddaughter Mercedes Franklin, her great grandchildren Syria Johnson and Xander Johnson, along with many nieces, nephews and countless friends.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of her granddaughter Traci Carwana or the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation.

Trinity Lutheran Church and Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cape Coral, FL has been entrusted with the care of Lily.