Shirley F. Francisco

Shirley F. Francisco, PhD, RN, 87, of Meadville, passed away Sunday, January 11, 2015 at Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community surrounded by her family.

She was born August 9, 1927 in McGraw, Warren County, a daughter of James L. and Clara McGraw Morrison.  She married Robert P. Francisco in 1950 and he survives.

Shirley was a 1944 graduate of Tidioute High School and the former Meadville City Hospital School of Nursing in the Cadet Nurse Program in 1948.  She worked there as a staff nurse for 20 years.  She graduated from the former Villa Maria College of Erie and earned her Masters and Doctorate degrees in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh.  She was a faculty member and program director of the Baccalaureate Nursing program at Villa Maria College and faculty and program director of the Masters in Nursing program at Gannon University.  She was a long time member of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, the American Association of University Professors, a charter member of the American Association of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, National League for Nursing, American Nursing Association, and the American Association for Therapeutic Humor.  She had been a volunteer for the Crawford County READ Program and was a Cleveland Indians baseball fan.

Survivors, in addition to her loving husband Robert, include two daughters, Sherry Groger of Cochranton and Kara Francisco of Mayfield Heights, OH; three sons, Patrick Francisco of Meadville, Timothy Francisco and his wife Kari of Colorado Springs, CO, and Michael Francisco of Baton Rouge, LA; two grandsons, Terry Groger, Jr. and his wife Heather of Cochranton and Shawn Francisco of Colorado Springs, CO; three great-grandchildren, Jordin, Brooke and Terry (Ty) Groger, III, all of Cochranton; a sister-in-law, Beverly Morrison of Warren; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kimberly Groger; a grandson, Kendall Francisco; a son-in-law, Terry Groger; two sisters, Lucille Smith and Donna Morrison; and four brothers, Clarence, James, Albert, and Charles Morrison.

Per Shirley’s wishes, following cremation calling hours will be Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville.

A private graveside service and interment will be in Cochranton Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, N/W PA Chapter, 1128 State St., Suite 301, Erie, PA 16501.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation for the wonderful care and support provided by the Wesbury staff.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net.