Catherine Frances Wilson, a/k/a “Frankie” or “Red” to her knitting buddies, died January 6, 2015 at the Community Hospice House of lung cancer. She was born more than sixty-five years ago in Brighton, Massachusetts but emigrated with her family to the Nashua and Hudson area where she attended St. Christopher School followed by Spring Street School and Elm Street High School. She worked at Sanders Corporation and later at Nashua Corporation, where she rose through the ranks to Cost Accounting Manager under Lou Luscher. While at Nashua Corp going to school nights at what was then NH College she met her husband Bill and years later after a knock on her head at her sister Ginny’s she would finally consent to marry him. Seeing in his wife, Frankie, her great capacity for love and knowing they couldn’t have children, Bill would foster that love on Williebear a Pomeranian Frankie picked up off of an indignant worker and quickly fell in love with. She would later start a company to promote the well being of dogs. She later worked as office manager at Dr. Gregory Gutgsell’s dental office, which later became Gutgsell & Phipps DDS in New London, NH.
But it was when she retired that she found her true love: knitting. Studying under Anne Hennessey of the NH League of Craftsmen at the Wool Room in Antrim, NH; Frankie quickly found her niche and turned out exquisite scarfs, knitted socks, and dozens of hats and felted handbags. Every Wednesday she would attend class at Anne’s shop and quickly made friends that would last a lifetime. After Anne had taught her everything she knew about knitting, Frankie stuck around and enjoyed the camaraderie that knitters have. She founded Frankie’s Funky Stuff LLC and for years she and her husband Bill traveled NH selling her crafts at various arts and crafts fairs. She further advanced her craft by attending workshops at the Pleasant Mountain Fiber Arts Workshop in Denmark, Maine.
Her devoted husband, William M Wilson, CPA/PFS, ABA, ARA, and their three Pomeranians Josie Belle, Madigan and Malichi survive her. Her sister Virginia Dumont and her husband, Daniel; her sister Krystle Hannigan; and her brother Donald Gale and his wife Erin also survive her. She leaves behind her nieces: Michelle Montgomery and her family, Katrina Gilman and her family, Maeve Gale, and Caeley Gale; and her nephews: Daniel Dumont and his family, Joseph Dumont and his family and Connor Jack Gale . She also leaves behind, her mother-in-law, Leona Wilson, and her brother-in-law, Stephen Wilson, and sisters-in-law, Sharon and Linda Wilson. She was predeceased by her mother Frances Gale and her step-father Donald Gale and by the great love of her life, WillieBear.
Her family will receive relatives and friends at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Sunday afternoon, January 11th from 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations to Community Hospice House, Attn. Development, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054 or the Habitat for Humanity would be greatly appreciated. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneral.com
