Leonie Marguerite DeFranks, age 92, of Marion, passed away early afternoon on Thursday, January 2, 2014 at her home.
Leonie was born on November 28, 1921, in Nice, France to the late Leon and Severine (Giordano) Audiffren.
When World War II broke out, she was working as a secretary in Nice. Towards the end of the war her father introduced her to an American GI he had befriended and had done some work in exchange for food. His name was Dominic DeFranks and it was love at first sight.
Leonie and Dominic were wed in June of 1945 and shortly thereafter Leonie left her beloved family in France and come to the states in the GI Warbride Ship, The Deneral George W. Goethals. They lived for a few years in Pennsylvania, then returned to France where they lived another nine years before returning a second time to the states, this time to Marion. They moved to their current home on North Main Street and lived there over fifty years.
Leonie was a homemaker with a good head for numbers, good at sewing and gardening. In her younger years, she met a lot of other French GI War Brides and husbands in Central Ohio, and they often got together for dinners, parties, and picnics, enjoying good cooking and conversation, cards and croquet.
Leonie was preceded in death by parents Leon and Severine Audiffren, husband, Dominic DeFranks, daughter Rosianne DeFranks, brother Edward (Louisette) Audiffren and sister Marguerite (Lucien) Qualjia.
Leonie is survived by daughter, Joelle DeFranks (fiancé Larry Wallace) of Tucson; a sister Lucette (Jacky) Sacchi, a brother, Roger (Josephine) Audiffren, a niece, nephews, great nieces and nephews in France as well as nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the east coast.
Leonie was a simple, unpretentious, clever, and kind woman.
Family will receive friends Monday, January 6, 2014 at Gunder/Hall & Folk Funeral Directors from 4 until 6PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 10AM with Father Buffer presiding. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.gunderhallandfolk.com.
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