While her groundbreaking work with X-ray diffraction images of DNA was crucial in determining its double helix structure, she passed away in 1958 from ovarian cancer at the age of 37. Nobel Prizes are not awarded posthumously.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 1962 was awarded to James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material.
While Franklin's contributions were acknowledged in the award speech, it is unfortunate that she did not live to receive the recognition she deserved for her crucial role in this groundbreaking discovery.