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Frances C. Albanese
February 01, 2019

Obituary

ALBANESE, Frances C. "Frannie" of Plymouth, MA, formerly of Roslindale, MA, age 90 passed peacefully in her sleep on February 1, 2019.Wife to the late Joseph Albanese. Beloved mother of Joseph “Joey” Albanese of Plymouth, MA, and Thomas “Tommy” Albanese of St. Petersburg, FL. Daughter of the late Giuseppe and Giovanna (Raffoni) Briguglio. Sister to the late Joseph, Yolanda (Russel), Andrew, and Mary Brigulio, and Elena (Harrison) Brigulio and her husband Carrol Harrison.

Family and friends will honor Frannie’s life by gathering at The Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St. West Roxbury for visitation on Thursday February 7, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM and again at 10:30 AM on Friday morning before leaving in procession to St. John Chrysostom Church, 4750 Washington St. West Roxbury for a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in her honor at 11:30AM. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery.

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For Frannie life was an experience, an adventure for living and for learning.

She learned responsibility as a young girl growing up in the South End. On the weekends she would go to her father’s barber shop to ask for a nickel to go see a show, after all, she was his “Principessa” (she truly was named after an Italian princess). His response was always the same… “Scupa Terra” – Sweep the floor – to earn the nickel.

After high school she and her two sisters joined the Women’s Marines Auxiliary. After this she sold encyclopedia sets and went to secretarial school. She was working in the office of Atlantic Steel where she made use of her administrative and organizational skills and where she met her husband Joe.

The skills and experience she had developed stood her well in her next and biggest adventure as homemaker/”domestic engineer” and the raising of the other two loves of her life, her sons Joey and Tommy.

In her adult life her adventure continued as she loved to travel. She visited Italy with her sister Elena, spent time on Martha’s Vineyard with Tommy, and often visited Joey when he lived in Colorado. Together they explored the beauty of Colorado and the West, visiting places such as Pikes Peak, the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Yellowstone. She also traveled to California when Susan (Joey’s girlfriend) lived there and saw San Diego and Los Angeles.

Her adventurous nature went beyond travel as she would try almost anything at least once. Even going as far as a one-time ride as a passenger on Joey’s motorcycle and even going up for flights with him in a small plane.

Her love of adventure sprang from her inquisitive nature and her love of learning. This curiosity and longing to learn eventually compelled her to attend U-Mass Boston in her 50’s to get a Bachelor and then Master’s degree in Education majoring in Sociology. Her sociology concentration was no surprise as she loved people and made friends, and many of them, easily.

Her kind nature also extended to her love of animals as well as people. And, the other loves of her life were the three Dachshunds she rescued over the years, Geral-D, Gretchen, and Greta, as well as a few “rescue mice”.

Another facet of Frannie’s complex nature was the inner artist. Her creativity took on many forms, from drawing, to writing, to ceramics, and even to building and finishing a wooden toy box for her boys. It was if she was constantly showing herself that she had no limits.

In addition to “doing” she loved “experiencing” the arts. Museums, musicals, theatre and performances like Cirque Du Soleil excited her senses and imagination. Sharing these experiences was important too, and not just with Joey and Tommy. As a Cub Scout Den Mother, she would take her scouts on trips to museums and other excursions to open their minds.

In her last years Joey and Susan were lucky enough to have her live with them. During those years they shared many great times and had much fun.

She truly understood that love is built from the components of kindness, understanding, acceptance, and charity. Frannie will be sorely missed by everyone who knew and was touched by her. The world is somehow lessened for her absence.

In her final years Alzheimer’s disease slowly stole this vibrant woman one memory at a time. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Mental Health and Alzheimer’s research and organizations as well as organizations that benefit animals, which were so important to her throughout her life.

Some organizations for your consideration follow:

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's Research
MSPCA (Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
MSPCA-Angell , Angell Memorial Veterinary Hospital

Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home
www.lawlerfuneralhome.com
617-323-5600

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Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home
1803 Centre Street
West Roxbury, MA 02132
617-323-5600