Wilbraham resident Marygene Byrd, 97, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Ann Arbor, MI, she was daughter of the late Paul Alexander and Helen (Griswold) Francisco.

A Registered Nurse, she worked in Labor and Delivery at Broward Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, FL for many years.

Marygene moved to Wilbraham in 2009 when she was 80 years old. A gifted quilter, she was a member of a Wilbraham S & B group and was an active member of Grace Union Church, where she served as a Deaconness for the church.

In addition to her parents, Marygene was also predeceased by her husbands; Robert Bruce Mills and James D. Byrd and her son in law John Wanner. She will be dearly missed by her three devoted daughters; Robin Corona (Louis) of St. Petersburg, FL, Cheryl Gardner (Carlton) of Wilbraham and Laurel Wanner of Greenville, SC, five cherished grandchildren; Pamela, Heather, Chelsea, Heidi and Alita, three great grandchildren; Courtney, DJ and Cassidy and two great, great grandchildren; Hank and Harvey. Marygene also leaves special friends; Joan Stanton of MS and Marlene and all her friends at Falcon Knoll in Wilbraham, as well as her many friends from Mercy Life and Legacy Hospice that gave her great care and comfort.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 5th from 10AM to 12Noon, concluding with Marygene’s Celebration of Life Service at 12:00Noon at Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd., Wilbraham. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rett Syndrome Research Trust, 67 Under Cliff Rd., Trumbull, CT 06611 or to Legacy Lifecare VNA and Hospice, 770 Converse St., Longmeadow, MA 01106.