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Thora DiFrancesca Obituary
DiFrancesca, Thora Margaret 80, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday morning, April 24th, 2005. She was the beloved wife of college football coach Vince DiFrancesca for 58 years. Margaret attended Northwestern University and graduated from the Evanston School of Nursing. She was a pioneer in the State of Illinois in the field of hospice care and was instrumental in developing the hospice unit at Highland Park Hospital. In her long and distinguished nursing career Margaret also served as head psychiatric nurse at Waukesha Memorial Hospital and Waukesha County Home in Wisconsin, Evanston Hospital and Lutheran General Hospital in the Chicago area. She is survived by her husband, Vince, her daughter Janet, wife of Craig Parshall and son, John, husband of Jan and eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Margaret was predeceased by her son, Charles, her father and mother, William Paul II and Winnie Paul and siblings, William Paul III, Dorothy, Gwen and Steven and one grandchild, Maggie. To everyone who knew her, Margaret DiFrancesca lived a life that exuded spiritual joy and reflected her deep and abiding love for her Savior, Jesus Christ. Her family now rejoices at her reunion with Him. A private ceremony to commemorate Margaret's passing and to honor her life of service was conducted by the immediate family. In lieu of flowers or other memorials, the family requests that gifts be made in the memory of Thora Margaret DiFrancesca to Moody Bible Institute, Attn: Stewardship, 820 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL, 60610. 312-329-4000To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Thora DiFrancesca
4 Entries
Mimi DiFrancesca Heberlein
January 4, 2006
My Favorite Aunt, You my dear, were
the voice of sanity and reason and the only person who ever asked me how I was REALLY doing as a child. You gave me an amazing role model of an intelligent, funny, compassionate, strong and beautiful woman to look up to. I love you Aunt Marge. I know you are laughing and filled with joy now. See you on the other side when it's my turn for the journey!
Elizabeth Pannier
April 30, 2005
I was deeply saddened to learn of Margaret's death. It seems like only yesterday that we were working and planning the Hospice of Highland Park's educational program together.We worked together for seven years and remained in touch for at least another 10 years. Her sensitivity to others, her great ability to help those who were hurting with either emotional and/or phsycial pain, was a constant lesson in living one's life with love and faith. Her calm presence and hearty laugh helped many a patient to relax and ease their way through the illness and sorrow they experienced. I loved working with her and was alway happy to hear her stories about her beloved family. She was a wonderful caregiver and a wonderful friend.
Sincerely, Elizabeth Pannier
Margaret Beth Harmatuk
April 28, 2005
We all have been blessed because this wonderful lady was in our lives. I will cherish my memories of my "favorite" aunt always!
John Finnegan
April 28, 2005
Johnny Di and family,
Saddened to hear of the death of the woman I knew as Mrs. DiFrancesca. I still have fond memories of visiting your house during our high school years and talking about football and the Brew Crew. The young man (Sean) who you purchased Bucking Billy Bronco for is now a 21 year old junior at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO where he is majoring in petroleum engineering.He has been to Ft. Collins but don't know if he ran into any "pissants from Pittsfield". The young woman (Leah) who shared Bucking Billy Bronco with her brother is now a 18 year old freshman at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY where she is studying creative writing. The college is famous for being the place where Steely Dan attended. I was head sophomore football coach at Waukegan High School last fall and went 0-9. Hey, Rome wasn't built in a day. I hope everyone else in your family is well and our thoughts are with you.
Finny
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