Eileen Frances Rita (O’Donnell) Franklin died at her home in South Weymouth on May 6.
She was born Oct. 21, 1914, in Brookline, the daughter of Ethel (McClullen) O’Donnell and James O’Donnell.
Mrs. Franklin grew up in Brookline, raised her family in Boston and had lived in South Weymouth for the last 30 years. She was married for 69 years to her husband, Lester Warren Franklin, of South Weymouth, who survives her.
She was a graduate of the Industrial School for Crippled and Deformed Children in Boston, class of 1933. She was involved with Girl and Boy Scouts
and walked for many years with the Weymouth Walking Club.
She was a polio survivor at age 2 and participated in the South Shore Post Polio Syndrome Support Group when her polio returned 10 years ago. She was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Braintree.
Mrs. Franklin was talented with her knitting and crochet skills and created hundreds of afghans and sweaters, which she enjoyed giving as gifts to family, friends and people all over the world. She was an avid fan of the Boston professional sports teams and she knew the statistics of all their players.
She is also survived by her sons, Lester W. Franklin Jr. and his wife, Annette, of Raleigh, N.C., James F. Franklin, of Storrs, Conn., and Dr. John E. Franklin and his wife, Luna Gainer, of Charleston, S.C.; her daughters, Eileen F. Franklin, of Milton, Kathleen F. Curley, and her husband, Dr. Paul Appleton, of West Hartford, Conn., and Mary E. Eastman and her husband, Robert, also of West Hartford; her 16 grandchildren, Lisa Franklin, John Franklin, Michael Franklin, Joshua Franklin, Daniel Franklin, Amanda Franklin, Sydney Franklin, Bradford Franklin, Sondra Flynn, Kathy Flynn, Jonathan Curley, Michael Curley, Elizabeth Barden, Jennifer Eastman, Molly Eastman and Adam Gainer; her seven great-grandchildren, Stephen Franklin, Skylar Barden, Lily Barden, Keith Flynn, Kim Flynn, Dee Flynn and Caprice Flynn; one great-great-grandchild, Kari-Ana Franklin; two nephews; and a niece.
She was the sister of the late Catherine R. Driscoll, the mother of the late William P. Franklin and the mother-in-law of the late Priscilla Franklin, George Curley and Bob Mudge.
A funeral Mass was held at St. Francis of Assisi Church, South Braintree, on May 9. Burial was in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.
Donations may be made to the Cotting School, 453 Concord Ave., Lexington, MA 02421.
Arrangements were by the Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home.