Theresa Lesniak, 91, a summer resident of Wareham, died in the early afternoon on Nov. 30, in Marco Island about one tenth mile from what should have been a safe return to her winter home. Theresa passed away instantly in a horrific car accident in which the driver of the other vehicle was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and reckless driving.

A long-time resident of Natick, Theresa was married to the late Michael Lesniak from 1942 while he was a soldier in the U.S. Army until 1993 when he died. Theresa was born in Canton, Mass. in 1922 several months after her parents, Ben Franco and Alice Leuci Franco, arrived from Italy. Theresa graduated from Canton High School in 1941.

Theresa prided herself on staying constantly active (mowing the lawn, raking leaves, doing the outdoor maintenance at the Wareham summer home that she and her late husband Michael built in 1971, attending mass every week and, ironically, driving. A better and safer driver than most people half her age, Theresa had never received a ticket and had never been in a car accident until her tragic death. Known for her meatballs and sausages, Theresa constantly was cooking batches for family and friends

Theresa spent winters in Florida and summers in her home on Wareham Lakeshore Drive. The house was built shortly after Theresa's sister-in-law, Ann Sawczuk, and her family also bought property off Glen Charlie Road.

Theresa is survived by her children, Jeanne and significant other Michael Jones and Robert and wife Ann Marie Tomasetti Lesniak. Theresa enjoyed visiting her only grandchild, Michael Lesniak and girlfriend Jess Allan daily at the Natick rug store that the pair work at with Robert and Ann Marie. During winters, Theresa lived around the corner from Jeanne in Marco Island.

Theresa was one of five siblings including Carmino Franco, Mary Palermo, wife of the late Anthony Palermo, and Anthony Franco and George Franco, husband of Diana Brongo Franco. Theresa leaves 14 loving neices and nephews(David, Lisa, Dennis, Wayne, Lynn, Michael, Susan, Steven, Marianne, Andy, Dana, Lorna, Gina and Darren) and their many loving children.