Carole J. Franti

Carole J. Franti of Davis, CA passed away on April 4, 2025 at the age of 88. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her many interests included Church activities, Mondavi Center, reading and travel.

She was born December 5, 1936 to Bill and Viola Wisti in Barron, Wisconsin. After high school, she attended Suomi College in Hancock, Michigan. She met Charles E. Franti, a teacher there, and they married on August 25, 1956. As Charlie completed masters degrees, the family started to grow. With young Rebecca, Sara and Dan in tow, the Franti family moved to California. Son Michael was adopted into the family. In June of 1967, Carole received her bachelor’s degree in education and Charlie his Ph.D in biostatistics from UC Berkeley. Charlie joined the faculty of UC Davis where Carole received her teaching credential. The family home was built and son Matthew was adopted into the family.

Carole started teaching kindergarten at Pioneer Elementary. In time she moved to Birch Lane Elementary and every so often would move up a grade. She received her masters in education in 1976. She finished her teaching career at North Davis Elementary teaching 5th grade. For the 80/81 school year, Carole swapped homes and classrooms with a teacher in Edmonton, Canada. Charlie, Michael and Matt made the move with her. Carole earned a Fellowship and went to Greece to study one summer. Another summer Charlie and Carole were the lead docents and lived on-site at Independence Mine State Historical Park in Palmer, Alaska.

Carole and Charlie bought 23 acres in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and designed and built a tri-level home using timber milled from the property’s trees. Before retirements, summers were spent at ‘the lake.’ After retirements the couple would spend many months a year in the Midwest.

After Charlie’s death in 2003, Carole found a passion for cruising the world. She’d take months-long trips and made it to all seven continents. She was a patron of the Mondavi Center and enjoyed lectures and movies.

Carole has been a member of Lutheran Church of the Incarnation since arriving in Davis. She was an active participant in the music and arts.

She is survived by five children: Rebecca (Lori Mathis); Sara Goss (Bill); Dan; Michael (Sara, son Taj and future baby); Michael’s sons Cappy and Ade; Matt (Stephanie, daughter Jacie and son Riley); and countless family and friends.

Services will be held at 3pm on April 30, 2025 at the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Davis with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Carole’s memory may be made to Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, Sutter Care at Home Hospice, Meals on Wheels Yolo County, Yolo County CASA or your favorite charity.