In loving memory of

Franchesca Martitsch Arnold

Our beloved Franchesca passed away early on Monday December 1st 2025.

Franchesca was born in Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, Canada, on October 20th 1962, to loving parents Karl and Beverly Martitsch, and an older brother Karl Nicholas who she looked up to and adored.

Our precious children Alexander and Natasha, and our wonderful rector, were all with me her adoring husband Jonathan, by Franchesca's side at the hospital, when she peacefully passed away, and journeyed beautifully to Heaven.

Franchesca had fought a brave battle over the last year, but ultimately complications from cancer and cancer treatment were too much for her beautiful body to bear.

She would not want her life to be defined by illness, but by the love she has always given and received.

Franchesca was truly a precious gift from God, who deeply enriched the lives of our family, and so many others, on so many levels and in so many ways.

Franchesca was and always will be beautiful in so many ways….the sparkle in her eyes, the warmth of her smile and loving embrace, her cute dimples in her cheeks, her humor and infectious deep throated laughter, her strengths and vulnerabilities.

Franchesca was also extraordinary in so many beautiful ways, but her most important and powerful virtue was the intensity and passion of her truly selfless and unconditional love and kindness.

Her beautiful love for God, her beloved family, dear friends, those she met along the way, and those who were in need.

Franchesca lived life to "The Golden Rule", inspiring so many people in so many different ways and always will, through her beautiful heart.

She always wore a simple charm necklace that grounded and reminded her and each of us daily, with what truly mattered in life, with:

*a heart for love and charity

*a cross for faith

*an anchor for hope and steadfastness

Franchesca exuded love and Joie de Vivre.

She was always kind and curious (a precious gift from her Canadian mother).

Her happy place was with her family in beautiful places that we are so truly blessed to call home, in Cohasset, Massachusetts, and at Tamarind House, Eleuthera in the Bahamas.

Franchesca had many happy places, whether on a snow covered mountain on a glorious winter day feeling energizing exhilaration when skiing (a gift and skill from her Austrian Olympian ski jumper father), or sail racing on the ocean (including on an around the world race) with loved friends, or ocean rowing in the summer, or camping and sitting with precious family and friends by the campfire all night.

Franchesca loved adventure and discovering new places and perspectives, that gave us all a better appreciation of precious time together, many cherished memories, and the importance of humanity.

She was accomplished in so many ways but it was her heart and her passion to make a difference that always inspired and guided her.

She always wanted to do more for others, and bring light to their lives, none more evident than with her beloved family and friends.

Importantly, she always used her passion and energy to make a broader difference however she could, whether volunteering at clothing drives, food banks and soup kitchens, or advocating and driving important change within the school as President of the PSO and SEPAC, and fund raising to build a new school playground.

A lifetime highlight will be her passion to make a difference in the lives of those in deep need through her invaluable contribution to the incredible global humanitarian work of CORE, which she loved, and where she worked.

Franchesca's proudest and most important accomplishment, and most precious legacy, will be our beloved children.

There are no words to describe the incomprehensible devastation, emptiness, and heartbreak we feel.

….BUT we have faith and hope In God and believe Franchesca will always be alive within us and beside us, as we journey in life with her and each other in a new way.

Franchesca was and always will be the most beautiful-hearted, devoted and loving wife and mother, anyone could ever imagine.

Knowing and loving Franchesca will always make us better for good.

She will live on forever in our hearts and souls and inspire us in the decades to come in ways we would never imagine were possible.

Franchesca is LOVE and will always be defined as LOVE.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will take place on Saturday January 17th at 11.30am, at St Stephen's Episcopal Church, Cohasset, Massachusetts (16 Highland Ave. Cohasset, MA 02025). Following the service there will be a reception in the church hall.

In lieu of any flowers, now or ahead of the service, if you wish we would ask that you consider making a donation to CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort). CORE is a humanitarian organization that does incredible work in the USA and around the Globe.

Link:

donate.coreresponse.org/campaign/755465/donate

Celebration of Life to take place in Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas in 2026 (date TBD)