LYNN — Francesca Simone “Franki” Galeazzi, chose to end her journey in life on Tuesday, March 8, after her battle with mental-health challenges.
Franki, 25, was born and raised in Lynn, attended Classical High School where she was elected president of the National Honor Society, and was an Item, NEC and Agganis All-Star in soccer, basketball and softball. She was also named an NEC Female Athlete of the Year.
I had the privilege of playing soccer and softball with Franki, but also knew her growing up.
I never thought I’d be writing an article in remembrance of one of my friends, especially when we are still so young.
Franki was a caring, compassionate, determined, supportive and kind human who spent a majority of her life helping others.
She participated in social-work internships and mission work with adolescent girls and victims of human trafficking.
She worked with La Casa del Jardin, a safe-house for survivors of sex trafficking in Tijuana, Rosarito, Mexico; was an active and beloved member at OceanPointe Christian Church in Middletown, R.I.; and went to Kenya with her ministry team and the organization Missions of Hope during the summer of 2021.
Franki’s talent and determination in soccer, basketball and softball was easily visible to anyone watching her. She was fast as lightning, a phenomenal slap hitter and shortstop, could easily weave in and out of people with the soccer ball, and ran up and down the basketball court, scoring points seemingly at will.
Her athletic talent wasn’t the only thing that stood out, as she was the true definition of a leader and showed exactly what the saying “there’s no I in team” means.
From hosting and planning team outings and sleepovers to ensuring that her players had a strong and trustworthy relationship both on and off the field, she was the one to gather players together and hype us up with a speech or a chant; to pull someone aside who was struggling during a game and help her refocus; or to handle and address any of the drama that occurs among high-school girls.
She was always the go-to girl; loved by her teammates but also by her coaches and teachers. She cared for everyone so much, and she was both a sister to her teammates and a daughter to her coaches.
Her sudden loss has shocked us all. Talking with friends, former teammates and coaches about Franki — and all of the memories we carry with us — we all had similar things to say:
“This feels surreal.”
“She was one of the best people we knew.”
“She was so loving and caring.”
“We have nothing but great things to say/remember about her.”
When you lose someone as amazing as Franki, reflecting on memories with her brings tears followed by laughter, and then tears and laughter again. It is an extremely difficult tragedy, but it brings joy to reflect on the happy and fun times she shared with so many.
She was the root of countless smiles and laughter, encouraging everyone to absorb every moment and appreciate everything.
I remember her telling us during soccer tryouts my freshman year — in between our double sessions while we were sitting in the pool at our friend Taylor’s house barely able to move — to take in every second because we would be graduating and moving on in the blink of an eye.
She was so right.
We all feel like it was yesterday that we were standing in the street outside her house trying to spell out the word “RAMS” (for the Classical team name) with our bodies, making pyramids by stacking one another on top of each other, dancing and singing all night, going to Chili’s and Coach Chris Warren’s house for team dinners, pumping ourselves up before the rival St. Mary’s and English games, and hanging out in the fishbowl after school.
These are the times that she was talking about and the ones she warned us to absorb and remember, so that one day, like today, we could look back, smile and appreciate all of the friendships, accomplishments and love that coincided with our teenage years.
Franki was one of the strongest people I knew, but also struggled with mental-health challenges. As the stigma around mental health is slowly breaking down, it is so important to not only check in on your friends and loved ones, but to openly speak about feelings of depression and anxiety, and seek support. There is nothing embarrassing about asking for help, which Franki did and would always encourage others to do.
Franki is gone way too soon and her loss will feel surreal for a while. She will be so missed by everyone and continue to be loved by so many.
In an essay that Franki wrote for school when she was 15, she referenced a line in Nickelback’s song “If Today Was Your Last Day,” which says: “Each day is a gift and not a given right; leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind, and try to take the path less traveled by; that first step you take is the longest stride.”
She followed this by saying: “So, here I am driving down that road to success, practicing my faith, and working for what I believe I can do. I believe in it all. I believe in myself.”
I think this is a quote that not only Franki lived by, but something she would want others to live by too.
As I write this from Ireland — which is a place she visited years ago with her Breakers soccer team and loved so much, always telling me to go if I get the chance — I wish so badly that I was home to say my goodbyes to Franki the traditional way, but I am holding up a toast in honor of Franki and encourage others to do the same and to continue sharing stories, love and memories of this incredible woman.
Slainté Franki, rest in the sweetest of peace.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, March 13 in the Solimine Funeral Home at 67 Ocean St. at 3 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., prior to the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Franki’s memory may be made to https://gofund.me/a0c04921. Those donations will be distributed to causes she was most passionate about.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Franki, please visit Solimine’s floral store.
If anyone is struggling with mental-health issues, there is a 24-hour emergency and crisis support line at 1-877-382-1609, and other resources can be found at www.massachusetts.networkofcare.org.
