Franca and I first met when I started dating her brother Angelo. Franca was 16 years old, and she was so beautiful with incredible long dark curly hair down to her waist, a sunny disposition and a beautiful smile that lit up a room. We shared so many wonderful Sunday lunches at Pa and Ma’s house together. “Francalina” (a term of endearment that fit her so well and stuck early on in our relationship), would make the most incredible deserts everyone would look forward to! Franca’s brother Angelo would love to tease her with a little mischievous look in his eyes and she would always get him back with a funny comment or fiercely put him in his place! Franca and I would both role up our eyes when Angelo would break out in “Volare” after a few drinks! Franca was Angelo’s amazing sister who he adored, and he would do anything for her!
I remember one Sunday lunch at Ma and Pa’s, Franca seemed a bit nervous and as we were washing the dishes, I asked her “Francalina, what’s up?”. She told me she was going on a date with “this guy” from high school that she had run into at “the hardware store” and she was a little nervous. From that day forward, it was “Francalina & Craigalino” – committed together, the perfect compliment to each other always! Fast forward several years later after our two beautiful weddings and we settled into life as a family, connected through the good times and the challenging times.
So many wonderful memories…..
Raising Sarah, Jonathan, Sophia, and Mark together. Sharing so many celebrations; birthdays, beautiful baptisms, communions and confirmations, anniversaries, weddings, and on and on. Just in our children’s birthdays, we have had 73 celebrations! Vacationing at Sherkston Shores, Aunt Angie’s cottage, the Metcalfe cottage, Florida. Going to the movies together, watching hockey, baseball games, dance recitals, skateboarding lessons, acting classes, countless holidays – watching our beautiful kids thrive and grow! Hanging out together either at Franca’s home or our home until the wee hours on weekends sharing wonderful meals, playing games, watching movies, Netflix, being quiet together in each other’s company, laughing and having fun. So many moments that weaved together creating the tapestry we call family, home, and love.
Franca faced many challenging times with her spinal cord injury, but she was always spirited, brave and a force to be reckoned with! She made the choice to embrace life’s challenges with dignity, pizzazz and a spirit that said, “This is my life and I choose happiness and I chose to love my family and friends!”. Loving, joyful, committed; a loyal mother, wife, daughter, sister, cousin, niece, and friend – that’s our Francalina!
Franca, our commitment to you is that we will continue to live in the spirit of YOU!
We loved you yesterday, we love you today and we will love you tomorrow and always!!
Paula, Sarah, and Jonathan