Cleopatra Franko, 84

Social Security worker

By Frederick N. Rasmussen

May 9, 2008

Cleopatra Franko, a retired Social Security Administration worker, died of heart failure Saturday at her Catonsville home. She was 84.

Cleopatra Vasilakis was born and raised in Weirton, W.Va. She was a 1942 graduate of Weir High School and moved to Baltimore's Greektown neighborhood in 1947.

Mrs. Franko, who had had been an office worker for Top's department store in Baltimore, later was a key punch operator for seven years at SSA headquarters in Woodlawn before retiring in 1984.

A Catonsville resident for more than 40 years, she was married for 26 years to Thomas Franko, who had been a partner in the Bel-Loc Diner and was chef at the Rolling Road Golf Club. He died in 1975.

Mrs. Franko was a member of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation and SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Annapolis, where services were held Tuesday.

She is survived by two sons, Andrew T. Franko of Severna Park and Michael A. Franko of Houston; and six grandchildren.

Andrew T. Franko was omitted from this obituary when it was published in the print edition. The Sun regrets the error.