William J. Francis

William J. Francis, of Scituate, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the age of 87. Born on March 10, 1939, he was the son of the late William W. Francis and Elizabeth A. Francis.

Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife of 38 years, Joan Marie (Rossetti) Francis, with whom he shared abiding love, family, and cherished memories.

He was the devoted father of William J. Francis Jr. and his wife, Jacquelyn; Maria Connolly and her husband, Stephen; Michael F. Francis and his wife, Stacey; and Christina Francis and her wife, Kate. Bill was a proud and loving grandfather to twelve grandchildren: Stephany, Christyn, Billy, Nick, Jordan, Maddy, Jake, Bobby, Luke, Zach, Sam, and Kyle. He was also the cherished great-grandfather of nine great-grandchildren.

Bill is also survived by his sister, Joyce F. McDevitt; his sister, Janice A. Francis; his brother, Michael S. Francis; and several nieces and nephews who will remember him with great affection.

A dedicated and hardworking man, Bill was a loyal employee of Boston Edison for over 44 years. He took great pride in his work and was a devoted and respected steward and trustee in his union, Local 369, Utility Workers of America. His commitment to public service extended well beyond his profession, as he proudly served on the Scituate Board of Registrars for more than 35 years, Scituate Conservation Commission and the Scituate Chamber of Commerce. His dedication to the Town of Scituate, and more specifically, to the Cedar Point Association, reflected his deep sense of civic responsibility and his desire to give back to the community he loved.

Above all else, Bill will be remembered for his unwavering devotion to his family, his strong work ethic, his quiet generosity, and the lasting impact he made on those fortunate enough to know him. His legacy of humor, integrity, and service will live on through the many lives he touched.

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Wednesday, July 29, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home in Scituate. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Scituate Etrusco, 1 Common St. Scituate, MA 02066.