Lesniak, Theresa M.

Theresa M. (Franco) Lesniak, 91, of Natick, died in the early afternoon on November 30, 2013, in Marco Island, Florida, about one-tenth of a mile from what should have been a safe return to her winter home.

Theresa passed away instantly in a horrific car accident in which the driver of the other vehicle was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and reckless driving.

Theresa was married to the late longtime Natick upholsterer Michael Lesniak from 1942, when he was a soldier in the U.S. Army, until 1993 when he died.

Theresa was born in Canton in 1922, several months after her parents, Ben Franco and Alice (Leuci) Franco, arrived from Italy. She graduated from Canton High School in 1941.

Theresa prided herself on staying constantly active, mowing the lawn, raking leaves, doing the outdoor maintenance at the Natick building she and her late husband built and owned, visiting the St. Patrick’s chapel every morning and attending Saturday afternoon mass, and, ironically, driving.

A better and safer driver than most people half her age, Theresa often drove to Canton, Stoughton and Wareham. During over seven decades of driving, she never received a ticket and until last week was never involved in a car accident. Her mother died at the age of 106 in Canton, and if not for this sudden tragedy, Theresa seemed destined to follow in Alice’s footsteps.

Theresa is survived by her children, Jeanne Lesniak and significant other, Michael Jones, and Robert Lesniak and his wife, Ann Marie (Tomasetti) Lesniak.

She enjoyed visiting her only grandchild, Michael Lesniak, and his girlfriend, Jess Allan, daily at the Natick rug store where the pair work and with Robert and Ann Marie.

During winters, Theresa lived around the corner from Jeanne in Marco Island.

She was one of five siblings, including Carmino Franco, Mary Palermo, wife of the late Anthony Palermo, Anthony Franco and George Franco, husband of Diana (Brongo) Franco. Theresa’s brothers, Carmino and Anthony, were longtime Canton firefighters who ultimately became deputy fire chiefs.

Theresa leaves 14 loving nieces and nephews: David, Lisa, Denis, Wayne, Lynne, Michael, Susan, Steven, Marianne, Andy, Dana, Lorna, Gina, and Darren, along with their many loving children.

Theresa’s funeral will be held from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, at Natick Common on Saturday, December 7, at 9 a.m. A mass of Christian burial will be held in her beloved St. Patrick’s Church, 44 E. Central St., Natick at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.

Visiting hours will be held in the funeral home on Friday, December 6, from 4-7 p.m. Burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Natick.

For directions or to send Theresa’s family a condolence, please visit www.everettfuneral.com.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Dec 5 2013. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.