Therese Francisco

Therese Francisco, 82, of Oswego, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2025, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

Born in New Haven, CT, she was the daughter of the late Ralph and Dina Bruna (Tarini) DeMartino.

A registered nurse, she met her husband, Dr. Nemesio Francisco (“Nemy”) while working as a nurse in Connecticut.  They married in 1965, and moved to Oswego NY in 1972, where they raised their three children.

Therese was raised in West Haven, CT.  She was fond of remembering the long summers of her childhood spent swimming in the Long Island Sound with her cousins, feasting on Italian ice and New Haven-style pizza, and learning to play the accordion, on which she was highly proficient.  She was a devoted mother and wife, running her late husband’s medical office and attending her children’s sporting events.  She never missed a child’s game or concert, and was often chided (humorously) for watching years of soccer games without ever learning the rules!  In her later years, she became the most devoted of grandmothers, spending time visiting and traveling with them, playing endless games of Rummikub, and once even letting one of them dye her hair a bright purple.   She was a loyal friend to many, and greatly enjoyed her weekly mahjong game, where the stakes were high (sometimes surpassing $2.50!), but the food and laughter flowed freely.

She was also an active member of the Oswego community.  She was a regular attendant at St. Mary’s Church and then of Christ the Good Shepherd, a longstanding volunteer at Human Concerns and  generous supporter of many charitable organizations.  She was a member of the Golden Agers Club, the YMCA and the Red Hat Society.  She also worked in the pharmacy of Oswego Hospital for a period of time.

Therese is survived by her children David (Cheryl) Francisco, Noel (Cynthia) Francisco, and Dina (Barry) Sharkey; eleven grandchildren, Jonathan (Megan), Marc, Nathan, Luke, Caroline, Faith, Rachel, Michelle, Maggie, Ellie and Adam; her cousins Laura Sorenson, Diane Arduini, Anthony Tarini, Mark Tarini, Paula DiMartino, Anita Girasuolo, Paul Bruno, and Dennis DeMartino, and their children; and numerous nieces and nephews in the Philippines.

She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Nemesio Francisco.

Calling hours will be held 3-6 PM, on Friday, August 15th at the Nelson Funeral Home, 11 West Albany Street.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at 10 AM on Saturday at Christ the Good Shepherd Church. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. 

 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Human Concerns, 75 E. Second Street, Oswego NY 13126 ([email protected]).

Arrangements are under the caring guidance of Nelson Funeral Home.