Agnes Franklin

Agnes Mary Franklin, born January 2, 1913, known as Aggie or Jimmy, to her friends and family, gave dedication and caregiving a new meaning. She died peacefully at home on October 5, 2008 finally retiring after 95 long lovefilled years. She began her career by taking care of her family, her sister’s family, friends or anyone who needed help in the neighborhood by doing their laundry or taking them meals. Later in life came the serious business of caring for loved ones who were sick, her aunt, mother, father, husband, brother-in-law, sister, and nephews, becoming a CNA before the posiition was invented and learning on the job. She kept this position into her 90’s when the people she cared for no longer needed her. She then became a volunteer at the Leydig Center for a couple years continuing to do what she was able. She taught her family what it really meant to be your brother’s keeper, literally, not figuratively. She never had a driver’s license, but that didn’t stop her because she had feet and determination, walking a couple miles to her sister’s or to her mother and dad’s when necessary, and no one was able to take her. She was never the CEO of a large company with a huge salary, but took care of her mother, husband, sister, and nephews in her own home with the expertise of one, and although there were little funds, didn’t go bankrupt. Coming from immigrant parents, she learned how to make do with what she had and and give back any excess. Greed and fame were not in her vocabulary. She lived through the depression and survived it with her soul intact, maybe ever better for it which should have some lesson there for the problems facing us today. She was preceded in death by her husband October 27, 1972; 1 sister Mary Turner and 1 brother Michael Jurechka. She left behind a daughter Joan (Gene) Lemme of Dixon; son Joseph "Joe" (Ida) Franklin of Dixon, six grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren who will hopefully have learned much from her selflessness and carry on the business of helping others.If you wish to become part of her legacy, a memorial to Kreider in lieu of flowers would be an excellent way to do it. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday October 8, 2008 at 2:00 PM in the Jones Funeral Home in Dixon with the Rev. Dr. Vincent O. Marrandino, Director of Pastoral Care at KSB Hospital, officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon. Visitation will be held from 1:00 until time of service in the funeral home.

Agnes Franklin

January 2, 1913 - October 5, 2008