Stephanie Ann Franklin
February 10, 1959 - March 4, 2005
If tears could build a staircase, and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.
(Family: If you want to order this, let me know and I'll give you the contact information.)
From my dad, written Memorial Day 2005 (May 30, 2005):
My Love, My Life, My Wife
She was the love of my life, my woman, my wife.
Her beautiful smile always shown so brightly to warm my heart, and bring joy to all of those around her.
She was a loving mother to both her children and to all the children she met in her life, she touched and nurtured them each in her own way.
She cared for me and watched over me during all the good times and the bad, never thinking about herself, but only for those she touched during her life.
She was the rose that shined so beautifully in the garden of life.
Her caring devotion to life and love was unsurpassed only by her devotion to her love for her family, her daughter, her son, and her husband.
She may be gone from this earthly world, but she will never be forgotten.
She is My Love, My Life, My Wife.
This is the eulogy my Aunt gave at the funeral service given in Mom's memory in San Diego, California
My sister my friend
For nearly 20 years we shared a room. Through all those years we only had one fight, the same one over and over: you messed up the room ! No I didn’t you did. No I didn’t! MOM
You couldn’t have 2 more opposites share the same space for so long and still get along so well. Stephanie loved everything about being feminine from the earliest age, she loved lace and frills, while I proclaimed ruffles have ridges. She was the true girly girl you name it lace, dresses, make up, nail polish, boys etc. She was always the skinny one and I was always the pleasantly plump one. When we were young I thought she had one of the goofiest smiles I have ever seen but with time it became one the most beautiful I have ever seen.
We did agree on one thing and that was friends. We shared the same best friend throughout our entire life.
As we continued to grow up and do are separate things we still remained close.
I always thought she was nuts because it seemed her entire goal was to get married and have kids by the time she was 18 or 19. She did accomplish this goal at 19 she married & at 20 she was a mother. Looking back now I realize that she was not nuts, just more intuitive and knew she would have more time with her husband and children by doing this so young. Stephanie always included me in all the important steps in her life, I got to be the maid of honor, the back up labor coach, the godmother, the confident, and the friend.
Then one day out of the blue this ugly news came.
She was in the hospital in Richmond undergoing many tests and I called her to see how she was. She cried a little bit and said the doctor had very grim news. He told her she had melanoma and that she had at least 4 tumors in her brain and she had 6-8 weeks to live without treatment.
From that moment on my sister fought one of the most courageous battles I have ever seen. She accepted her fate and asked once why my brain. After that she never complained never said why me and took to the task of beating this disease.
She took on one the most remarkable attitudes I have ever seen. She over came each hurdle that was thrown at her. Didn’t believe the doctor’s opinions in Virginia where not one of them had any hope or treatment for her. She told everyone she was going to beat cancer. She did not want to be around doom and gloom and if you weren’t going to be upbeat and positive she didn’t want to hear from you and she proclaimed she wasn’t going anywhere until the good Lord was ready to take her.
My sister wanted to come home to San Diego after her radiation treatments and see as much family and friends as possible and at least one more sunset on the beach. It was at this time I realized what a special woman my sister was. She was a simple woman who didn’t require much, just the simple things like the love of family and friends. She was completely overwhelmed when all of her brothers were sitting on the porch waiting for her when she arrived. Helen asked her if there was anything she wanted of someplace she wanted to go that she had never been and always wanted to do. She said no just being the center of attention at a party in her honor was good enough for her.
My sister was loved by everyone she knew, they all had the same remark when describing her, she is the kindest person I know, never has a bad word to say about anybody. Sweet was another word used often to describe her. My sister showed incredible faith & hope during her battle.
I would like to share with you a poem my sister gave me years ago by Bruce Wilmer.
A sister is forever
A sister’s a sister forever
A bond that diminishes never,
A friend who is kindly & caring,
A sibling God chooses for sharing
Few ties are as deep and profound
And with so much affection abound
Though some thoughts are seldom expressed,
Love endures and survives every test.
Of the constants that rest in the heart,
A sister’s a primary part.
She’ll always be there when you need her
You listen, you value, you heed her.
As growth, independence you ponder,
Your feelings grow deeper, and fonder; And life
Tells us one thing that’s true:
A sister is a large part of you.
On March 4 our loss was great, we lost a daughter a sister, a wife, a mother, and a good friend. But the world’s loss was great too, there is one less kind soul here.
The Links below go to Mom's obituaries in both newspapers.
Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star
This page will be updated and changed periodically. There are many who loved and cared for my mom. She was an amazing person. We all love and miss you!
(If you can't see the correct font for mom's name, download "Bodie MF Holly" from www.1001freefonts.com)