Evelyn Freeman Francis, a sixty-one year resident of New Canaan, Ct passed peacefully away on February 1st, 2016. Evelyn Freeman Francis was born in Jamaica on August 16th, 1915 and lived one hundred years marked by determination, kindness, and above all grace. She is predeceased by her beloved husband Norbert Francis and survived by her sister Gloria of Great Britain, her son James, her grandchildren Steffian and Johanna, her great grandson Etienne Francis-Venet, as well as, extended family in the States, Jamaica, Great Britain, and long time and faithful friend Fred Ward. Evelyn’s earliest memories included the tolling of the bells to mark the end of the First World War standing beside her grandmother in Jamaica. She moved to the States in her early teens to join her father who owned a candy store. She was educated in New York and it was there that she eventually met and married her beloved husband, Norbert Francis. Entrepreneurial at heart, the young couple decided to move to New Canaan to establish not only their young family but, young business, Francis Building Company. Once in New Canaan, Evelyn ran the finances of what steadily grew to be a distinguished family owned general contracting and custom home building firm while also working in the financial department of Perkin Elmer. Evelyn participated in the development of New Canaan with buildings that still stand today, while simultaneously traversing the changes in the social and economical landscape of America. Evelyn met all the trials and tribulations that encompass walking the earth for one hundred years, by never wavering from her deeply rooted belief that “I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness - as I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow beings, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it; for I shall not pass this way again.” Evelyn, in addition to being a devoted wife, mother, business owner, and thereafter mother to her grandchildren was also an active member at the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan from its beginning. She participated in the Choir, Singing Group and acted as the Music Librarian and in her free time was an avid knitter, needle pointer, and gardener. Evelyn Francis is deeply loved and missed. She lives on in the blood lines of her decedents and her beautiful and gracious spirit lives on in all hearts and minds of all who were blessed enough to know her. A memorial service shall be held April 23rd, 2016 at 10:30 am at First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan, CT with a reception to follow. In lieu of sending flowers please make any donations to the First Presbyterian in Church of New Canaan or your favorite charity.