Elsie Maud Francis 1915 – 2002
From the Parish News – April 2002
Died 2nd March aged 87 years.
Many villagers from both Alburgh and Denton will feel they have lost a very dear friend with the passing of Elsie Francis. She was born in Halesworth and had to learn to take responsibility at an early age as, being one of a family of seven, her mother died when she was only eleven years old. She met her husband Vic while she was in service at a residence in the Flixton area where he was a gardener. They took a cottage on Trunch Hill when they married, moving into a Council house when they were built in the mid thirties where their three children - Alan, Michael and Gloria were born, they later moved to Alburgh in the early fifties.As retirement approached, Vic and Elsie moved to a bungalow in Wortwell, but sadly Vic died following a road accident only three years later. It is said the best way to win a person's heart is through their stomach, and Elsie won the hearts of many children in Denton, as for around twenty years she was cook at the school canteen, (now part of Rectory Cottage), the meals were also sent to Alburgh School. This was something she really enjoyed and there were rarely complaints about the food during her time. She was also a member of the WI and Mother's Union, and was always ready to help with any charity work.
Her life was not without sadness for, as well as losing her husband, her son Alan died with a brain tumour, two of her grandchildren died as the result of Muscular Dystrophy, another in it's infancy. Her daughter Gloria and her family were bereaved twice, but she always held on to her faith and the loving relationship of her family prevailed.
A large congregation gathered for her Memorial Service at Harleston URC Church (where she was married), led by Revd. Owen North. Our sympathy and condolences are extended to her family - Michael and Roberta, Gloria and Danny, daughter in law Ruby, her twelve grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.