Obituary of Franco Franzese

Franco Franzese, age 72, of Shelton, beloved husband of Rosa Maria Lipari Franzese, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Born on November 24, 1944, in San Lucido, Calabria, Italy, he was a son of the late Cesare and Angela Osso Franzese. He immigrated to the United States as a teenager and lived for many years in Bridgeport. He worked for Con-Rail and Metro North Railway System as an engineer for 37 years until his retirement. Franco made many friends throughout his life, at his job and in the Bridgeport and Shelton Community. His easy going manner inspired trust and assurance to the people around him. He was patient and kind, generous and thoughtful to friends and everyone he met. Most of all he was first a loving son, brother then a loving and caring husband to Rosa Maria and a great father to his four children and a doting grandfather of five grandkids. He loved bowling, cooking Italian specialties and Friday night pizza night with his family. In addition to his beloved wife of 43 years, Rosa, other survivors include his loving children, Angela Chiara and her husband Michael Basta, Cesare Franzese and his wife Sarah, Franco Franzese and his wife Jenny and Caterina Franzese, all of Shelton, five cherished grandchildren, Alanna Martinez Franzese, Arianna Franzese, Anissa Franzese, Isabella Basta and Domenico Franzese, brothers and sisters, Maria Mirafiore of Stratford, Ida Franzese and Romilda Franzese and her husband Raffaele, all of Italy, Anna (Nina) Goessinger and her husband Jim, John Franzese and his wife Mary Beth, all of Shelton, Nella Cioppa of Seymour, and Rosa Bousquet and her husband Craig of Stratford, a sister-in-law, Coleen Franzese, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his brother Luciano (Louie) Franzese. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 12, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. directly in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 200 Shelton Rd., Trumbull. Entombment will follow in the St. Monica Mausoleum at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Relatives and friends may greet the family on Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Oxford Special Olympics, c/o Maureen Blees, coordinator, 13 Lisbon Terrace, Oxford, CT 06478.