Thelma "Tot" B. Francis, of Madison, NJ, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 91 years old. A funeral mass will be held at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison on Monday, October 19th at 10 am. (For those who cannot attend the Mass, you may view Thelma's Funeral Mass via St. Vincent Martyr Church's livestream: www.svmnj.org/livestream-mass.) Visitation will be held at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home in Madison on Sunday, October 18, from 1 to 4 pm.  

Thelma was born in Louisville, Kentucky to parents Marie Jerger Birchler and August J. Birchler Jr. on September 11, 1935 and grew up on their farm with her three siblings Miriam, August, and RoseMary. Thelma attended Fern Creek High School, graduating in 1953.  While at her first job scooping ice cream, she met her husband, Walter W. Francis Jr, and they married in 1954 in St. Bartholomew church. They were happily together for 53 years. 

Thelma and Walter moved from Louisville, Kentucky to Tennessee and Virginia, before settling in Madison, NJ in 1968. Quickly becoming an active part of her community, Thelma served as the President of the Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce. She earned the distinction of becoming the first female member of the Chatham Kiwanis, and was named a George F. Hixson Fellow in 1996 for her fundraising efforts to eliminate iodine deficiency disorder. 

Thelma was a dedicated member of St. Vincent Martyr Church. Alongside Sister Dorothy, she served as a Thursday Principal of CCD. She showed her devotion to her faith as a member of the Rosary Society and church choir. 

Traveling was a large part of Thelma's life, having visited the lower 48 states, Canada, and Alaska with her husband in their motorhome. She enjoyed camping and exploring, always meeting new people and making friends along the way. 

Always keeping active, most recently Thelma could be found greeting customers at Chatham Print and Design, now owned by her daughter, Susan. In her free time she enjoyed growing native plants, reading, spending time with her family and friends, and sitting on her front porch with her beloved dog, Phoebe.

Thelma treasured her family above all else. She is survived by her four daughters, Jeanette Gupko (Robert), Barbara Krysa (Edward), Linda Stout, and Susan Kessel (Scott). She is lovingly known as "Gramma" to her grandchildren Christopher Gupko (Elena), Stephanie Gupko (Ben Murphy), Justin Stout (Hannah), Shauna Stout (Jason Raposo), Matthew Krysa (Emily), and Nicole Krysa, and great-grandchildren Chanel and Tucker Stout, and Anna and Hunter Gupko. She is predeceased by her husband Walter W. Francis, Jr., son, Walter W. Francis III, and siblings Miriam, August, and RoseMary. 

In lieu of flowers, the Francis family kindly requests that donations be made in Thelma’s memory to the Boys Town organization (www.boystown.org) or the Great Swamp Watershed Association (www.greatswamp.org).