Obituary of Italo Francia

FRANCIA, Italo

Italo Francia passed away peacefully on July 29, 2023 at the age of 86, with his family lovingly by his side. Beloved

Husband to Vincenza (nee Rivieccio) with whom he celebrated 60 years of marriage. Papa will be dearly missed by

his children Vincenzo (Debbie), Steven, Maria (Eddie) Battaglini, Mauro. He was a proud Nonno to Taylor, Christopher,

Sarah and Massimo. Loving brother to Germana (Giuseppe), Wanda (Ugo), Tullio (Kelly) and predeceased by Liliana

D’Elia and Genevera Francia. …….Papa will also be missed by many, many nieces and nephews.

Born August 21, 1936 to Vincenzo and Carmela in Napoli, Italy. Italo lived a difficult early life with WWII on his literal

doorstep. Throughout the recollections of the hardship he had endured, his memories were always tinged with his wry

sense of humour and his indomitable spirit of survival. Amazing stories of running through the streets of Naples amidst

gunfire and sirens to save the family supper from having to evacuate the city when Vesuvius was erupting in 1944.

As the eldest son, Italo followed his father’s footsteps and from a very young age was taught to be a Dental

Technician. Thankfully, as he admitted that he was not a very good student and a failure as a singer.

When he reached the age of majority, Italo went to Bari to serve his mandatory military training. During one of his visits

home, he locked his eyes on a pretty young woman named Vincenza. After 4 years of courtship, they married on

August 10, 1963. Italo went to Connecticut, working day and night and sending money home to his little family. In

1969, they were able to emigrate to Canada with a few pit stops in Toronto and eventually settled in Windsor.

Italo’s strong will and stubbornness served him well throughout the years. Along with his generosity and wicked, often

inappropriate sense of humour, he imparted a strong work ethic on his children . It was these qualities that brought

him to a country where he didn’t know the language, the culture and enabled his great successes personally and with

owning his own dental lab.

Whether he was tolling in the garden, proudly canning the tomatoes he grew, lovingly bottling his wine or throwing a

line in the water to “catch the big one” he would drop everything to greet a friend. His home was their home, his food

was their food, his hospitality was far reaching and endless.

Nonno, you lived a full life and though we grieve your loss, we know you are now at peace without pain and we are

comforted with a lifetime of memories to cherish and laugh over.

We thank each and every person who has assisted the family throughout the years. Special thanks to all the doctors

who took such great care of him and a special thanks to the nurses and doctors of 2 North at Windsor Regional

Ouellette Campus. Our great gratitude for all the in-home care workers, especially Silvia, Steve, Brian and Char.

Thank you for caring for our dear papa as if he was your own, it gave us more time with him.

Visitation will be held at Windsor Chapel (South Chapel) 3048 Dougall Avenue (519-253-7236) on Thursday, August 3, 2023 from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Services will begin on Friday, August 4, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. at the funeral home with procession to St Angela Merici Church (980 Louis Ave) for the Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. Entombment to follow at Heavenly Rest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the familyrequests donations to the Italian-Canadian Handicapable Association.