Barbara Francis

Barbara Francis, cherished mother and matriarch, age 92, of Rootstown, passed away Saturday March 14, 2026 at her home, in the comforting presence of family, after a brief decline in health. Barbara was born in Kent, Ohio on January 6, 1934, the eldest of five daughters of Paul and Margaret (Mehok) Gambaccini. Barbara was educated at St. Patrick School and Kent Roosevelt High School, and graduated from Kent State University with a degree in accounting. She married Steve Francis on August 22, 1959 and settled in Rootstown. She was an excellent homemaker and patient and caring mother of ten children. Indeed, she knew how to wield a wooden spoon. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and good cooking. She was an avid reader, especially of history and WWII. She enjoyed true crime shows on TV. She was adept at word puzzles and detailed needlework. Patience was on full display with late nights of kids’ school projects and extracurricular activity schedules. Her particular set of skills included keeping count of kids’ (and their friends’) bobbing heads for countless hours at the swimming hole, and dealing out bubblegum cheese sandwiches like playing cards. Her penmanship was so fine, it should have been its own font! She was a frequent baby sitter and truly cherished her grand and great grand children. She always stood at the door and waved as you drove away from a visit. She applied her business acumen as a partner in Steve Francis Excavating. In addition, she worked outside the home, most recently at MK Land Title Agency of Stark County. Barbara was a devout Catholic as a member of St. John Neumann Parish, St. Peter of the Fields Church, in Rootstown. She is survived by her children, Diane (Ray) Johnson, Stephen (Angela) Francis, Jr., Karen Maffei, Marianne Kitakis, Joseph (Melissa) Francis, Matthew (Ruthann) Francis, Lisa (Kenny) Fry, Keith (Anita) Francis, Margaret (Williams Castro) Francis, and Laura Francis, 24 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. She is also survived by siblings Marilyn Reighard, Gloria (Ernie) Silva, and Donna Jean Soule. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Steve on June 26, 2021, an infant daughter, and her sister Francine Earle. In honoring her wishes, cremation has taken place. Memorial calling hours will be Monday April 6, 2026 from 6 to 8 PM at the Shorts Spicer Crislip Funeral Homes Ravenna Chapel. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Tuesday April 7, 2026 at St. John Neumann Parish, St. Peter of the Fields Church, in Rootstown. Inurnment will follow in Homeland Cemetery Rootstown, Ohio. Celebration luncheon will follow at St. Peter’s Church hall. Condolences and memories of Barbara may be shared with her family at www.sscfunnnalhomes.com.