Nancy A. (Plesko) Franks

Nancy A. Franks (nee Plesko), 83, of North Ridgeville, passed away at home on Monday July 21, 2025.  She was born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 18, 1942, graduated from West Tech High School in 1960, and was a North Ridgeville resident for 57 years.  She lovingly cared for her family, her home, and her community.  Nancy worked as a florist at Wilhelmy Flowers, and Sissons Flowers and gifts, as an Education Aid for the North Ridgeville City Schools, and retired from Ridge Cleaners as the store manager of their North Ridgeville location. Her lifetime of steadfast faith was enjoyed with many church families, most recently at First Congregational United Church of Christ in North Ridgeville. She taught Sunday school for 50+ years where she fondly earned the title of Cardboard Queen for her crafting prowess.

  She especially relished her role as past president and long-time North Ridgeville Arts Council member and North Ridgeville Historical Society member.  She never turned down a request to help her church, community, neighbors, or even a stranger.  In 1996, the North Ridgeville Corn Festival Committee presented her with the Golden Kernel Award (given to residents of North Ridgeville for their outstanding community service and for making the city a better place to live). The North Ridgeville Lions Club honored Nancy with their highest award for community service, the Melvin Jones Award. 

She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and traveling.  Nancy, most of all was dedicated to her family, and they will miss her greatly.  She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert A. Franks; her son, Ross Franks (Yun Eun Suk) of Rocky River; her daughter, Wendy Lapsevich of Middleburg Heights; and three grandsons Bradley Franks, Geoffrey Lapsevich and Wesley Lapsevich.  She was preceded in death by her parents John E. Plesko and Rose A. Plesko (nee Smith); and her son-in-law, Gregory S. Lapsevich.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 4 to 7pm at the Liston Funeral Home, 36403 Center Ridge Road, (at Stoney Ridge Road), North Ridgeville. A memorial service will be on Friday August 8, 2025 at 11:00am at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 36363 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville.  Pastor Kearstin Bailey will officiate.  The burial will be private at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Avon.

 The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to either First Congregational United Church of Christ in North Ridgeville, or to the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in support of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and other prion diseases research. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy A. (Plesko) Franks, please visit our floral store.