Christine Franklin, 80, of Mesa, Ariz., passed away on Nov. 12 with her beloved husband, Robert, by her side.
She was born on Oct. 15, 1944 in Southington, Conn., to John Tedesco, a partner in the family automotive spring manufacturing business, and Tekla Tedesco, a homemaker, avid gardener and member of the Cheshire Garden Club.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Central Connecticut College before landing her first job as an assistant handbags buyer at the prestigious G. Fox & Company in Hartford.
It was there she met the love of her life, Robert Franklin. The connection was instant, and the two married on Valentine’s Day 1967. Five years later, the couple welcomed daughter Kimberly to the family, and she became the center of their world.
At the time, Franklins resided in Rhode Island before making the trek west in 1981, where they built a new life in sunny Arizona, owning and operating two successful small businesses. Franklin quenched her thirst for all things fashion by working part-time at what would become Macy’s Department Store. She would spend the next nearly 30 years with the company, eventually serving as the full-time executive assistant to the Arizona division president.
Franklin’s zest for life was contagious. She was up for anything – from attending a professional football game in Arizona’s sweltering summer heart to pedaling down Maui’s Hana Highway to eating her way through Italy with her family. Her love for cooking was driven by a simple truth: Franklin loved to eat. Her baked stuffed shrimp and prime rib became staples during the holidays.
Franklin’s kindness, generosity and tender heart made her a cherished friend to many. She had a knack for making those around her feel special, listening to them without passing judgment and celebrating their achievements as if they were her own.
She is survived by her husband, Robert, brother William Tedesco of Smethport, Pa., and daughter Kim Franklin Withee (Eric) of Hermosa Beach, Calif.
A celebration of Franklin’s life will take place at Desert Botanical Garden. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org/) or Hospice of the Valley (https://www.hov.org/).
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
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