JoAnne Patricia Franks

March 14, 1936 - March 21, 2025

Urbanski's Bedford Funeral Chapel

8300 Lewis Ave.

Temperance, MI 48182

(734) 847-3841 |

Sunday 3/30, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

JoAnne Patricia Franks, 89 years, of Lambertville, MI passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025. The daughter of Bert and Stella (Boyak) Knapinski she was born on March 14, 1936 in Toledo, OH.

JoAnne was a devout Catholic attending mass at St. Clement’s Catholic Church. She loved to travel, visiting Ireland in 2024 and other places including Italy and Branson, MO. The bus trips with Emmanuel Baptist Church and Lewis Ave Baptist Church to Amish Country in Ohio and Hersey, PA. An active member of various organizations and clubs includes, Sylvania Moose Lodge 1579, American Legion Post 587, VFW Post 2898, Knitting Club, Bedford Senior Center and the Monroe Senior Center. She took part in Lourdes University Lifelong Learning Program in Sylvania, OH.

JoAnne is survived by her loving son, Michael (Karen) Franks; grandsons, Christopher (Brooke) Franks, Stephen (Jessica) Franks and Joseph (Candace) Franks; 8 great-grandchildren, Andrew, Leah, Conner, Seth, Jackson, Stella, Autumn and Alice; best friend, Jackie Litmer; her cat, Patty. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Nelson Franks.

Above all, JoAnne loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

A memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the Urbanski’s Bedford Funeral Chapel 8300 Lewis Ave Temperance, MI where a sharing of memories service will begin at 1:30 p.m. Cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Calvary Catholic Cemetery Toledo, OH. Online condolences may be shared at www.bedfordfuneralchapel.com.

Urbanski's Bedford Chapel

Candace Franks

Joseph Franks

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Urbanski's Bedford Funeral Chapel

8300 Lewis Ave.

Temperance, MI 48182

(734) 847-3841 | Map

Sunday 3/30, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

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JoAnne Patricia Franks, 89 years, of Lambertville, MI passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025. The daughter of Bert and Stella (Boyak) Knapinski she was born on March 14, 1936 in Toledo, OH. JoAnne was a devout Catholic attending mass at St. Clement’s Catholic Church. She loved to travel, visiting Ireland in 2024 and otherContinue Reading

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Our deepest condolences are with our brother in law/uncle, Joe, and his family during the loss of Grandma Franks. We enjoyed getting to know her when she spent some time during the summer in Vienna. She was such a special lady! The whole Franks family is in our prayers! Love, Ben, Caitlin, Vera, & Lettie Carr

Our deepest sympathies are with the Franks family at this time. We enjoyed having Joann at our house during the summers. John loved playing the guitar and singing for her, and she and I did a lot of shopping and visiting together. She will be missed by so many. All our love to Joe and family at this time. - John & Carlene Penney

Grandma was one of a kind. Her thoughtfulness touched my family. She had an extraordinary gift for knitting, creating treasures with her hands for my daughters. She even knit a shirt for me. We had a good laugh about it because it turned out to be more of a crop top! I will never forget how patiently she tried to teach Stella and Autumn to knit. She never missed a birthday. Stella held a special place in her heart, a bond deepened by the shared name with her mom. The teddy bear she made from her mom’s fur coat when Stella was 6 remains one of the most precious gifts she ever gave. For Autumn, she always had a book ready, or story to tell, while our little Alice—her ‘Foxy’—was spoiled with enough fox-themed stuffed animals, outfits, and blankets to fill a nursery twice over. When Alice arrived as a big surprise, Grandma’s cards, prayers, and a small guardian angel pin she mailed me were little reminders of that I could do it. She loved her son Michael and grandsons, Joe, Steve & Chris. She always kept up with the family business and what everyone had going on. She told me lots of stories. She was smart, sassy and talented. I will be praying for her sons, grandsons and great grandchildren in the coming days.

In memory of JoAnne Patricia Franks, Joseph Franks lit a candle

Grandma, I want to thank you for all the memories and love you've shown all of us including my daughters, brothers and wife and I. You were one of the most thoughtful women I have ever met, and in many ways, like another mother to me. if you weren't sending hats and mittens you knitted for my girls, you were sending cards and gifts. You went out of your way to support me in my career, and were the only family member that attended my graduation from Air Force boot camp. I always respected your opinions and loved our conversations about life and various world affairs. I pray you have found peace and have been reunited with my grandfather Nelson in heaven. I love you, and will miss you dearly. Your Grandson, Joe
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My deepest condolences to the entire Franks family. I am Joe's sister in law, and I was privileged to spend a few weeks with Grandma Franks over the course of the past ten years or so, and she was so much fun. We went shopping, out to eat, and walked around the land at my mom and dad's house. She was a sassy, smart, and lovely lady, and she will be missed. My heart is with all of Grandma Franks family at this time, especially my brother, Joe. Always, Carla Penney

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.