Rita P. Franks
1927 – 2016

Northampton – Rita (Provencher) Franks, 88, died peacefully at her home in the Rockridge Retirement Community on July 14, 2016. She was born October 5, 1927 in Springfield, the daughter of Gerald and Lillian Provencher. She grew up in Springfield and West Springfield, graduating from West Springfield High School. Rita married the love of her life, William A. Franks, Jr. in 1947 and they lived in West Springfield for many years before retiring to Fort Myers, Florida. After Bill's death in 2003, Rita returned to West Springfield and later moved to Rockridge in Northampton. Rita was predeceased by her husband William Franks, her daughter Judith Kyros, brother Robert Provencher, and sister Elizabeth Dunn. She leaves her daughter Karen Williams and husband Donald of South Deerfield; grandchildren, Sarah Carlan and husband Paul of Conway; Robert Williams and wife Sara of South Hadley; Kate Kyros and husband Jacob Miller-Maak of Falmouth, ME; Jonathan Kyros of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Matthew Kyros of Somerville. She also leaves her great grandchildren Amelia Carlan, Benjamin Carlan and Charlotte Grace Williams. A private funeral will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home followed by burial in the Massachusetts Veteran's Memorial Cemetery. For more details please visit curranjones.com. The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Rockridge Retirement Community for their friendship and love towards Rita in her declining years and to Cooley Dickenson VNA and Hospice for their help and support during her last weeks. Donations should be sent to Cooley Dickenson VNA and Hospice, 168 Industrial Drive, Northampton, MA.