Edith Patricia Unsworth Franco

Edith Patricia Unsworth Franco, 96, passed away on April 17, 2023, after suffering a stroke. She lived in Briarcliff Manor for over 53 years. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 21, 1926.

Edith was preceded in death by her beloved husband of over 66 years, Anthony Franco, her father, Colin Edward Unsworth, mother, Maria Dolores Hernandez, sister, Marie Inez Agurcia and brother, Colin Edward Unsworth, Jr. Edith is survived her daughter, Lola (Kevin Seaman), son Tony Jr. (Virginia Larrañaga) and grandchildren, Pat, Anthony III (Natalie Hussein), Emilie, Grayson, Wesley, Ana, Colin and Lucy. She leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews, as well as grand nieces and nephews, the Hug girls, Julie, Jeannette and Joanne and many friends.

Although born in Argentina, Edith was raised in Jackson Heights Queens. She attended Newtown High School, excelling academically and graduating early. After working for a year as a mail censor during World War II, she attended Bethany College in Wheeling, West Virginia. She was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority and graduated in 1948. She worked at the YWCA in NYC until 1956, when she married Tony Franco and moved to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. They lived in Honduras for eight years, before being transferred to Mexico City, where they lived until 1970. She spent the remainder of her life in Briarcliff.

An aspiring actress in college, she was very involved in a theater group in Tegucigalpa. Living in Briarcliff, she volunteered her time reading books on tape for children, being cookie mom for the girl scouts, eventually finding her passion as a travel agent for Scarborough Travel, Travel Partners, Armonk Travel and finally Valerie Wilson Travel.

Edith loved to travel, and made it to every continent but Antarctica. One of her biggest regrets was not getting to India, China and Japan, where she had always wanted to see the Cherry Blossoms.

In her spare time, she loved to play bridge in a local group in Briarcliff and a Wednesday group at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. About 20 years ago, she began playing duplicate bridge, where she became a regional master. We fully believe she would have been a grand master had she started competing earlier.

She also enjoyed watching tennis.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the https://bmplfriends.org/. The library was a lifeline to her particularly these past three years, allowing her to travel in her mind, when she could no longer travel in person.

Edith loved to dance, travel, read, laugh and drink champagne. Please continue to do all these things in her memory.

Visitation will be at Waterbury and Kelly Funeral Home in Briarcliff on Thursday, June 1 from 5:00-7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church on Friday, June 2, at 10:00.

Burial will be private.

WATERBURY & KELLY FUNERAL HOME

1300 Pleasantville Road

Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510

914-941-0838

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