Obituary of Franca M. Ghielmetti

On the morning of Wednesday, November 17, 2021, Franca Ghielmetti, loving mother of three children and grandmother to six grandchildren, passed away at the age of 82. Her final day was spent peacefully at her home in Pasatiempo, Santa Cruz. Franca was born on December 9, 1938 in San Jose, CA. Throughout her life, Franca demonstrated that she was a kind, sensible, and strong woman, and passed those values down to her family, which always remained the core pillar of her life. She married her husband, Jack Ghielmetti, in 1960 and is the mother of Jeff Ghielmetti, Edie Givens, and Jena Ghielmetti. As the matriarch of the family, she cherished every loud, Italian family dinner with her children and grandchildren. Franca kept herself sharp mentally, socially, and physically by creating a loving community of friends through golf, tennis, and bridge, while maintaining her passions as a businesswoman. Even though she would never admit it, Franca was an extremely talented painter with a love of anything creative that never faded away. Franca will be remembered for her goodwill and extraordinary care for those she loved, her fortitude and composure, and, of course, the way her eyes squinted when she laughed. Of anything, Franca was a happy woman with a sharp sense of humor, who had a family and community that truly loved her for every nuance that made her who she was. She is survived by her three children, Jeff (Cindy), Edie (Scott), and Jena (Phil); her granddaughters Gina Givens, Christina and Victoria Ghielmetti, and Olivia Yankovich; as well as her grandsons Greg Ghielmetti and Nicolai Yankovich. We wish her a peaceful rest with her parents, Edward and Jean Moceo, her brother, Ralph Moceo, and her husband, Jack Ghielmetti. Franca’s funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at Holy Cross Church (210 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), starting at 12pm.