Lillie A. De Francesco

Lillie A. De Francesco, 91, of Benton Harbor, passed away at Jordan?s Nursing Home, Bridgman, MI, on Wednesday, July 21, 2004. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 26, 9:00 A.M., at St. John?s Catholic Church, 600 Columbus, Benton Harbor, MI, with Father William Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph, MI. Visitation will be on Sunday, July 25, from 3:00-6:00 P.M., at the Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Bernard?s Catholioc Church. Friends wishing to leave a message of condolence, or to sign the family guest book, may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Lillie was born on July 31, 1912, in Bari, Italy, to Vito and Rose (Giovannelli) De Tomaso. On August 24, 1930, in Chicago, IL, she married Michael De Francesco, who preceded her in death on July 30, 1994. Both Lillie and her husband owned and operated the family farm on Napier in Benton Harbor for many years. Lillie also had a fruit stand in her front yard. She loved her family, and was a good mother. Lillie was a member of St. John?s and most recently St. Bernard?s Church. She spent many winters in Florida, until recently when her health did not allow her to do so. She is survived by two sons, Vito (Paula) De Francesco of Benton Harbor, and Roccy (Marcia) De Francesco of Dowagiac; six grandchildren, Michael (Maureen) De Francesco, Kathleen (Tim) Pullano, Frank (Mary) De Francesco, Michelle (Brian) Bythrow, Roccy (Kara) De Francesco, and Michael De Francesco; and seven great grandchildren, Aimee De Francesco, Grant De Francesco, Christy Bythrow, Cody Bythrow, Cora Bythrow, Lauren De Francesco and Mitchell De Francesco. Lillian is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three brothers-Mike, Tony, and Dominic De Tomaso, and two sisters-Mary Fiore and Santina Torresso.