GILROY, Calif. — Mary Jane (Fox) Franchi, 94, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, at her home in Gilroy, Calif.

She was born on Oct. 2, 1922, in Reading, the daughter of the late Samuel S. and Katie (Schankweiler) Fox. She was a graduate of Reading High School, Kutztown State Teachers College and Temple University (master's). Mary Jane was married to her husband, Victor A. Franchi, for 61 years and raised three sons, Victor, Daniel and Gregory. She lived in several places in Pennsylvania during her life, including Reading, Harrisburg, Radnor and Wilkes-Barre.

As a young woman, Mary Jane worked at a parachute factory, where she helped make parachutes for the service men of World War II. Mary Jane enjoyed working with children and was an elementary school teacher for many years in Reading and at Penbrook Elementary in the Harrisburg area.

Mary Jane enjoyed singing and was a member of several choirs in her lifetime, including the Eastern College Choir in Radnor. She was an avid book reader and traveled extensively including Europe, China and India.

She was preceded in death by her two sisters, Helen Holtzman and Ruth Gabriel, and daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Franchi.

Mary Jane is survived by her husband, Victor A. Franchi; sons, Victor and his wife, Laura, Daniel, Gregory and his wife, Sadhana; grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth, Victoria, Emma, Robert, Shaan and Asha; and many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 143 W. Division St., Wilkes-Barre, by the Rev. Leo McKernan, followed by interment in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Osterhout Free Library, Memorial Donation, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.