Alfrieda L. Francis, passed peacefully into God's loving arms on October 31, 2025, six days shy of her 97th birthday at Brookdale Senior Living, Troy.  She was born in Troy, Ohio on November 6, 1928, to the late Leonard and Colette (Magoteaux) Pour.  She married Maynard E. Francis at St. Patrick Catholic Church on April 3, 1948, a marriage lasting nearly 77 years but for Maynard's death on February 27, 2025.

Survivors include her four daughters, Marcia Niswonger, Piqua, Rita (David) Cromes, Alabaster, Alabama, Mary (Randy) Giesseman, Troy and Susie Barhorst, Troy.  Alfrieda is survived by 10 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her sister, Ann Hancock, brothers, Joe Pour and John Pour, and her son-in-law, Gary Niswonger.

Mrs. Francis was a life member of St. Patrick Church.  She had also been a member of various garden clubs in both Troy and Sidney.  Her love of gardening began under the tutelage of her mother and would expand her entire life.  There was not a flower she didn't love or couldn't grow.  She was the recipient of many green thumb awards and in 2019, at the age of 90, won the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs Region 5 Outstanding Amateur Gardener award.

It was rare to leave her garden without a plant or cutting propagated by her.  This love of gardening, and the tending of God's earth to the best of her ability, has been handed down to all four of her daughters.  Although we will never be able to match the sheer volume and beauty of all she grew, we will surely give it our all in her loving memory.  Mom was the hardest worker we knew.  She assisted Maynard in their highly successful rental business, working right alongside him in every aspect of tearing out, rebuilding or refurbishing every property they owned.  She canned enormous batches of fruits and vegetables, was a true artist in creating hundreds of crocheted doilies and even made concrete leaves out of enormous plant material.

She traveled to numerous countries around the world with Maynard and developed many deep and long-lasting friendships.  She was truly one of a kind, was cherished and will be deeply missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Troy, with Fr. Eric Bowman officiating at 10:30 AM Tuesday, November 11, 2025.  Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Troy.  The family will greet friends prior to the Mass from 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM at the entrance of the Church.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Ohio's Hospice of Miami County or St. Patrick Church.

Ohio's Hospice of Miami County
3230 N. County Road 25A, Troy OH 45373
Web: https://hospiceofmiamicounty.org

St. Patrick Catholic Church
409 E. Main Street, Troy OH 45373