Linda Marie Francisco

Linda Marie Francisco 54 of Vandalia, IL, formerly of Champaign, IL, passed away on Sunday, August 13, 2017, in Vandalia, IL

Linda was born in Champaign, IL on November 26, 1962, the daughter of the Rev. Robert & Euna Francisco. She attended schools in Ogden and St. Joseph, IL and graduated from the St. Colletta's School in Wisconsin. After graduation she worked at the Developmental Service Center in Champaign before coming to Vandalia to work at FAYCO Developmental Center.
She lived in various group homes while with FAYCO. When she became ill, her parents told her that they would bring her home to live with them and she told them, "I work at FAYCO and FAYCO is my home, I don't want to leave."

Linda was a loving child and adult. She never out-grew the desire to hug employees at FAYCO, people at church, or family members and relatives at home. That was part of her personality. Linda was baptized a Christian as a child and lived her life as a Christian. She enjoyed reading her Bible, listening to her Christian music, C.D.'s and watching religious program on her T.V.

Linda enjoyed being home with her family throughout the year and while at the group homes, being able to go out for lunch or pizza with her parents. She enjoyed coming home during the holidays for special meals at Christmas, Easter and especially Thanksgiving while her family gathered together. Thanksgiving was extra special for her because she was able to celebrate her birthday with her whole family.

Linda was a special child... always destined to be a child. She was never able to advance mentally beyond thinking like a child, but she tried... asking her parents to buy her booklets of arithmetic problems for her to work that were at the 1st. grade level, so she could become smarter. Even while fighting cancer and dutifully taking the chemotherapy that took so much out of her, she continued working on the math problems booklets. In life, Linda always did the best she could.

To her sister and brothers ... .. Becky, Mark, Mike and Chuck, her parents will always be their Mom and Dad, but to Linda, they will always be ... her Mommy and Daddy.

Linda Marie Francisco is survived by her parents - Rev. and Mrs. Robert L. Francisco, pastor of the First Christian Church, Vandalia, IL; Sister - Rebecca Sue Hatter, Mattoon, IL; Brothers - Robert Mark Francisco, Crete, IL, Michael LaRoy Francisco & Kris, Royal, IL, and Charles Edwin Francisco & Trinity, Killeen, TX; Uncles - Charles J. Francisco, Richmond, VA, Robert J. Trent & Jeane, Paradice, TX, David Trent & Donna, Rogersville, TN; Aunts - Beuna O'Connor, Urbana, IL, Martha Francisco, Urbana, IL, Phyllis Myers & Derryl, Morristown, TN, and Beatrise Wallace, Queensland, Australia; 5 Nieces; 5 Nephews; 3 Grand Nephews and many cousins.

Linda was preceded in death by her grandfathers and grandmothers; Nephew, William Michael Hatter; her Aunt Norma Campbell and Uncle, William Leroy Francisco.

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, August 18 2017, at First Christian Church, Vandalia, IL, with the Rev. Jay Johnson, officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. at the church. A private family interment will take place in Champaign, IL.

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