Obituary of Catherine Sweet Francisco

Mrs. Catherine ?Kay? E. Sweet Francisco, 87, of Largo, FL and formerly of the Town of Florida died April 20, 2009, after a lengthy illness. Born in Amsterdam, New York on January 14, 1922 she was the daughter of the late Howard and Rachel DeGroff Sweet. Catherine spent the first 77 years of her life in the Town of Florida and grew up on her father?s farm on Shell Stone Road.. She was a 1939 graduate of the former Wilbur H. Lynch High School and attended Mildred Elley Secretarial School in Albany, New York, where she graduated in June 1940. After graduation, she worked at General Electric in Schenectady, On July 24, 1943 Catherine was united in marriage to La Verne Francisco. Together they shared 54 years of marriage, until his passing on June 18, 1997. They both first started working on the Riley Farm near Pattersonville for a couple of years. In 1958 they purchased the Blue Bank Farm in Mill Point, and ran it for 30 years. They had three children, Carol Lee in 1944, Roger Alan in 1946 and Phillip La Verne in 1949. Carol Lee predeceased her mother and brothers in 1997. The couple enjoyed riding motorcycles and traveling. They traveled through Europe and cruised to Alaska. On one motorcycle trip, La Verne broke his ankle and knew he couldn?t ride back to New York with both of them on the bike, so Catherine rode the bus from Arkansas to Amsterdam. La Verne almost beat her back. Catherine sold their home in 1999 and moved to Largo, Florida, to escape the severe winters. She spent holidays and special occasions with her family. She would even ?housesit? with her two Dachshund grand puppies, letting them sleep with her and ?hog? the bed. She complained about it but never stopped them from sleeping with her when she was there. Even during the times she felt the worse, her granddaughter Andrea would bring her youngest great grandson Aidan to visit and Catherine would perk up and get a big smile on her face. She loved having her family visit with her; it was one of her greatest treasures. Her loving family includes her sons Roger Francisco of Largo, FL and Phillip Francisco of Fultonville, NY; a sister, Phyllis Palmer of Marcellus, NY; grandchildren Thomas Hoffman, Amy Staples, Andrea Haseltine, Tammy Jones, Rachel Francisco, Christopher Cutterback and Abigail Francisco and 13 great grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 2 o?clock at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam with the Rev. Nancy Ryan presiding. Internment will take place in Fairview Cemetery. A calling hour will precede the funeral beginning at 1 o?clock at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Town of Florida Volunteer Fire Department in care of the funeral home office. Cremation services were handled by Moss Feaster Funeral Home, Serenity Gardens Chapel in Florida. Local arrangements have been entrusted to the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home.