Frances Marchesini (68), a beloved member of the L’Arche Boston North community in Haverhill, MA, passed away peacefully on July 2nd at home. Born on October 7, 1957, in Peabody, MA, to the late Josephine (Mistretta) LeMay and Sergio Marchesini, Frannie loved her family deeply, often sharing stories about her mother and eight siblings, especially her twin brother, Frankie.

Frannie always took care of others. She grew up caring for her brothers and sisters and continued caring for everyone else she met. She was noted for her nearly magical ability to soothe any baby in her arms and could entertain small children for hours. She looked after generations of “buddy-pals” in L’Arche, a dependable source of treats, hugs, and stories both sad and hilarious. She served on the L’Arche Boston North Board of Directors, where she advocated for herself and her peers.

A graduate of the John T. Berry School in North Reading, Frannie worked at Morgan Memorial in Beverly, Burger King in Peabody, Christmas Tree Shops in Salem, NH, American Training in North Andover, and Market Basket in Salem, NH. She was a founding member of the L’Arche Culinary Program, where she excelled and mentored others.

Frannie’s enthusiasm was infectious. She shared her love of The Beatles, John Denver, and classic musicals, especially The Sound of Music. She loved to travel, with adventures ranging from Italy to Disneyland to Bermuda. She shared her faith as an altar server at St. Patrick’s Church in Groveland. A decorated Special Olympian, she participated in basketball, track and field, and swimming events. Frannie was a typical New Englander in her food choices. She dug clams and could eat 2 whole lobsters at a time and look around for more. Italian to the core, she also loved spaghetti. After partial retirement, Frannie enjoyed picking (and eating) blueberries, painting fire hydrants around Haverhill, and going out for ice cream.

Frannie saw and brought out the best in people. She was patient, forgiving, and endlessly loving. She had an eye for beauty and was a talented artist, noted for her paintings of beach scenes and animals. She took time to make others feel welcome and comfortable with her acts of kindness, big and small – a benevolently bossy big sister to the world.

She is survived by her sisters, Grace Gordon and Paula Cook; her brothers, Peter, Joseph, and James Marchesini; her brother-in-law, Ken Chapman; her niece, Amanda Hurley; and her extensive L’Arche family.

Visiting hours will be held at Sacred Hearts Parish in Bradford on Saturday, July 18th at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m., and reception at her home in Merrimac at 12:30 p.m. Please wear pink in honor of Frannie’s favorite color! In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Frannie’s name to L’Arche Boston North, P.O. Box 1177, Haverhill, MA, 01831. To send a condolence to her family and friends please visit www.driscollcares.com.