Jeannette F. Franklin

Jeannette "Nettie or Netta" Florence Franklin, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Lahey Medical Center in Peabody, at age 86.

She was born on July 21, 1937 and raised in Cambridge, MA as an Ohara. She had two beautiful sisters named Patricia and Mary. Both sisters have passed on earlier and are now with Nettie. She attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. Nettie earned an associate's degree and certificates in healthcare, dentistry, and more. Nettie loved to learn and have fun. She was married to the late Irven L. Franklin for many years, and they had four sons Larry, John, Robert, Steven.

For many years, Nettie worked for the City of Cambridge at the Teen Health Center and Riverside Clinic. Nettie was a professional nurse, helped in many areas of the clinic and hospital, but most of all loved working with all the teens and learning new words from other languages.  With a love for sweets, she often arrived home with surprise coffee and donuts from Dunkin Donuts for her family.

Nettie adored her grandchildren, often hosting Camp Nanny no matter the season for her grandchildren. Every year, she packed up the kids and went to Maine for a week to everyone’s delight. The entire family loved Mom, Nanny, Nettie.

Nettie was a frequent visitor to Horn Pond with her friend Joseph McMahon to feed the ducks, and visited Spy Pond in Arlington many times with her best and long life friends, Anna Dupont and Lisa Antonnelli. For years, every Friday night in Melrose was a dinner and laughs surrounded by family and friends.

Nettie loved to see what God made on earth. She enjoyed trips to Bermuda, Ireland, the Cape, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and many other destinations. While living in Cambridge, Arlington, and Melrose she was always surrounded by the love of her sons who visited, called and prayed for her. Nettie was beloved by many and treated with love and kindness by all. She was never in need of her favorite coffee or donuts, pizza, a glass of wine, or a good laugh. In her free time, she stayed active with her family and loved being busy. She joined the Waltham and Lexington health clubs, and was also a member of the YMCA/YWCA for years with her grandkids.

Nettie was the life of every event and made people laugh and feel loved. Her friends span a lifetime of more than 86.8 years and her phone was always ringing. She would try to help anyone, and was determined to live and fight until God brought her home. The best mother, friend, relative, or coworker anyone could ever have in life, she always defended her family like a roaring lioness. Nettie loved everyone she met regardless of where they were from. She was proud of all her kids and grandkids and her sons girlfriends.

Nettie lived a very long life and enjoyed it all. Her sons made sure she had the best of everything including healthcare and advocacy. In her last months she ate, drank, had candy and pudding, ice cream...and plenty of coffee.

Nettie will be remembered for years to come and she made friends everywhere she went and extended hope to the suffering. Nettie was a born again Christian and is now residing with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She has a new body and no worries. We will see her again. Nettie is now secure in the company of almighty God our Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We hope you raise a toast to Nettie, whatever you drink or eat...and to everyone who has touched your life in a meaningful way.

Nettie was the beloved wife of the late Irven L. Franklin. Devoted mother of Larry Franklin and his wife Carol of Middleborough, John Franklin of Arlington, Robert Franklin of Cambridge, MA and his fiancée Magali Garced of Lawrence, MA, and Steven Franklin and his wife Karen of Suntree, FL. Cherished grandmother of Sabrina, Andrea, Crystal, and Janelle and great-grandmother of Alyssa, Ariah, Lilliana, Devin, Tyler, JoJo, and Matthew.

Services will be private.