Elyahu Ben Rachel A”H, Eli Franco, my older brother, was the youngest boy in our family of four boys and three girls. I was the youngest—the baby girl.
Eli, being four years my elder, was the one who always protected and looked after me. He allowed his six year old sister to tag along with him and his friends even though he was 11.
He taught me many things as a child, like how to make and fly a kite, how to ride a bike and fix a flat tire, how to make toys out of the wooden slats of boxes, and much more. He addressed me as his kid sister, even until his passing.
Most of all, he found ways to instill confidence in me. In the early years, our family spent summers in Long Beach, New York. There, Eli and I would go fishing together at the canal. He always caught lots of fish. On the other hand, I, his five year old kid sister, never caught anything.
One day, as we were fishing together, I sadly blurted out, “I never catch anything!” Hearing this, he immediately implemented a plan to boost my confidence and make me happy. He coaxed me into aiming my fishing hook into the open mouth of a dead fish that happened to be floating by. He encouraged me to pull up on the rod and bring the fish in.
As I succeeded, he enthusiastically shouted, “There, you caught a fish! you caught a fish!”
This was typical of the good heart he possessed.
He served in the army during peacetime, stationed in Germany. Upon coming home on furlough, he made sure to bring me two bottles of real French perfume. I still have it and use it to this day.
The sudden passing of our mother, Rachel Franco A”H, at age 46 was devastating. You can imagine what a 15 year old boy like Eli felt, as he would miss the love, attention, guidance and pride only a mother can give. This would be lost to him forever and he knew it.
My brothers Nat and Eli were inseparable. Eli looked up to Nat, who was five years his senior and learned from him. They were in business together and shared many happy times.
When my father, Samuel Franco A”H, remarried and had six more children: Jeannette, Victor, Evelyn, Alan, Ike and Joey, Eli and I embraced them. We suddenly had additional brothers and sisters, whom we loved and connected with. Even when Eli lived out of town, he always kept in touch with everyone.
Before our father passed away, he summoned Eli and asked him to personally take his remains for burial in Eretz Israel. Eli had the zehut (merit) to fulfill that promise and mitzvah. He would tell me, “I have Pop’s picture with me, right on my desk and I love him.”
Eli worked diligently to raise his children single handedly, being there for them as well as loving them.
The one thing stands out in my memory occurred when Eli was home on leave from the army. I was 19 and he was 23. In our discussion, I blurted out to him, “Eli, Hashem just doesn’t answer my prayers.”
Addressing me seriously, he said, “Yes he does and I’ll prove it to you!” Then he posed the following question: “Didn’t you pray that I would come home safely?”
The only answer I had for him was, “Yes.”
His question was so profound, that I often recall it and remind myself that indeed Hashem does answer prayers.
Thank you Eli, for all the love and guidance you gave me so freely.
____________
Lillian Setton is Eli’s kid sister.
