Raleigh ‘RyRy’ Franco, 4
May 25, 2007 — March 9, 2012
Niles Daily Star, Published 10:55pm Tuesday, March 13, 2012
- Raleigh Franco
Raleigh Ashlyn Franco, 4, of Niles, passed away peacefully at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, with her family by her side, on Friday, March 9, 2012. Raleigh “Ry Ry” was born to Xavier and NaShawn Franco on May 25, 2007, in Niles.
She was a preschool student of Tri-County Head Start, where she loved to color and paint pictures of her family and friends. She was well-known for her beautiful smile and warm personality, but many close to “Ry Ry” knew her best by her love for music, singing and dancing. She truly loved hanging out at her “Gama” Linda’s hair salon, where she was often pampered with manicures and pedicures.
Above all, she was daddy’s little girl.
Preceding Raleigh were her great-great-grandparents, James and Tillie Anderson, and great-grandparents, Willie Travier, Pauline Coleman Travier, Betty J. Kirkendoll, Maurice Ulysses Miller; and her grandmother, Deborah Denise Travier–Franco.
She is survived by her great-great-grandmother; Audell Miller of Chicago; great-grandparents, Fannie Davis Miller of Niles, Perry Gene Kirkendoll of Elkhart; her grandparents, Eucebio “Jimmy” and Linda Evelyn Franco, Rodney and Linda Kirkendoll of Niles; and her parents, Xavier and NaShawn Franco of Niles. She is also survived by a sister, Kennedi Kimyia Franco, of Niles; close uncle, Rodney Rene Kirkendoll Jr.; and close aunt, Kyla Renese Kirkendoll, of Niles; and a host uncles, aunts, cousins and family friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 17, at 10 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Niles with Pastor James Hightower, of Benton Harbor, officiating. A time for visitation will begin one hour prior.
An interment will follow the service at Silverbrook Cemetery, in Niles.
Donations can be made to the Raleigh A. Franco Memorial Fund at Fifth Third Bank.