Lillian Ardith DiFrancesco

DiFrancesco, Mrs. Lillian A. Age 89 of Kalamazoo Lillian Ardith Smith DiFrancesco the second child born to Martin Smith and Anne (Richter) Smith of Kalamazoo on September 24, 1923, died January 3, 2013. She was predeceased by her brother, Robert Smith in December of 2004; her younger sister, Clara May Srackangast in May of 2011 and her sister, Fern Victoria Berner in October of 2011. Lillian was raised in the Galesburg area, living with different families. She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1942. In 1943 she met the love of her life and future husband, Alfred DiFrancesco, a Private in the army, at a dance at the YWCA on Rose Street in Kalamazoo. They dated for about 3 months before she joined the Navy Waves. After being separated by the war, they were married shortly after. They were blessed with two wonderful sons, Alfred Jr. born in 1946, and Robert born in 1948. Lillian earned a business degree from Parsons Business School and worked many years at Sutherland Paper Company as a Secretary before retiring. She and her husband spent their winters in Winter Haven, Florida and summers in Michigan. Lil and Fred's married years were built with lots of love and much humor. She will be missed by family and friends especially her hugs, her laughter and her beautiful crocheting. Surviving are her husband, Alfred; sons, Alfred Jr. and Robert; granddaughters, Christi (Ryan) Coleman, Carey (Morgan) DiFrancesco, and Ali DiFrancesco and great-grandchildren, Jack, Sarah, Katie, and Tom Coleman and baby Lingle.