08/01/1947 - 11/13/2014

Franci K. Marchello passed away on November 13, 2014. She was preceded in death by parents, Frank and Wilma Bell and son Stephen Marchello. She is survived by her husband, Mario. Franci was born in Butte, MT on August 1, 1947. She lived in Aurora, CO from 1949-1950, moved to Seattle from 1951-1953 and then, moved to Helena MT where she graduated from high school in 1965. She attended Montana State University where she met her husband Mario on Friday, May 13, 1966. They were married on August 4, 1968. Mario and Franci lived in Bozeman, MT from 1968-1971 while Mario finished college. In 1971, they moved to Geraldine, MT. In 1972, they moved to Shelby, MT, then Great Falls, MT and finally settled down in Butte, MT and resided there until 1981. In 1981, they moved to Centennial, CO where their residence is still today.

Franci touched many lives wherever she lived. While living in Colorado, Franci became a teacher and Supervisor of St Anthony Nursery School from 1983-1986. In 1986 she changed careers and became an interior design consultant with Design West from 1986-1999. On January 16, 1999 her son Steve passed away from cancer. To honor their son's generous spirit, Franci and Mario founded the Stephen T. Marchello Scholarship Foundation- a non-profit organization that gives scholarships to survivors of childhood cancer in Colorado and Montana so they may pursue higher education.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Stephen T. Marchello Scholarship Foundation. (www.stmfoundation.org)

Services will be held at 11 AM on Friday, November 21 at St. Mary Catholic Parish in Littleton. (6853 South Prince Street) with a burial.

Franci had a talent for brightening the lives of those she knew and loved. She demonstrated this talent in her career as an Interior Designer by coordinating beautiful color schemes and through her ability to combine African tribal and American Southwestern themes. On a more personal level, Franci went to great lengths to make those around her feel special. She spent countless hours choosing, wrapping and decorating every gift and she used her incredible handwriting to personalize each gift with her thoughts of love and kindness. Franci had a smile and a personality that was like a ray of sunshine. While she may have seemed reserved to those she just met, once she got to know you she would take the time to listen and share her life for as long as someone needed. Franci always stayed positive and made the best of everything. Many people weren't aware when she was having a difficult time, because her smile, kindness, and generosity continued no matter what.

Obituary from Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary and Cemetery