Francesca Amelia French's Obituary
Francesca Amelia Sanfilippo French November 3, 1929 - June 6, 2025 Francesca passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Friday, June 6, 2025.
She was born in her maternal grandmother's home in Camden, New Jersey, on November 3, 1929, and was named after her grandmother, Francesca Cuccinata Mangano. Proud of her Sicilian heritage, Francesca grew up between Camden and her parents Grace and Alfonso Sanfilippo's farm outside of Bridgeville, Delaware.
She shared many stories of childhood fun and mischief with her siblings-Angelina (Trotman), Pasquale (Pat), and Anthony (all of whom preceded her in death)-and her New Jersey cousins during visits to the farm or their lively city adventures in Camden and Philadelphia. Francesca loved movies, especially those from her youth.
She knew all the actors and enjoyed rewatching classic films on TCM, often sharing them with family during dinners or barbecues. She loved music and dancing and could jitterbug with the best of them. Francesca was very proud of her work accomplishments.
She began her career at Stoltz Variety Store in Seaford, Delaware. At the age of 18, she was recognized for her exceptional customer service and recruited to work as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone. It was during this time she met her future husband, Bob French, through a mutual friend.
As her children grew, she had a short but meaningful career at International Latex, where she was proud to have contributed to the production of materials used in astronauts' suits. She later worked at Wilmington Trust Company, initially on the night shift while raising her family. In 1970, she moved back to Seaford and found joy helping her brother Pat and their mother fulfill a dream by opening Sanfilippo's Italian Restaurant.
Francesca adapted well to every role, whether at the family restaurant, the Milford Country Club, or later at Kennard's clothing store on Market Street in Wilmington. She also worked as a nanny for a local family and returned to clerical work before retiring. Raising her children was the most important role in Francesca's life.
She was a fierce protector and loving mother whose care was unwavering, profound, and full of joy. Her door was always open to friends, especially when Rob and Joan joined the Blue Rocks Drum and Bugle Corps. Many young members found comfort in her home and her delicious Italian cooking.
Francesca will be forever loved, honored, and missed by her children: Rob (Anne), Joan (Phillip), and Mike (Tara). She was predeceased by her youngest son, Steve, and his wife, Cindy. She was a proud grandmother to Robyn, Ryan (Shenandoah), Randy (Andrea), Mariah, Haley, James (Avery), Logan, Emily, and step-grandsons Gabriel and Ivan Bannowsky.
Her great-grandchildren-Jacob (Havannah), Joshua (Alaina), Jocelyn, Mason, Max, Miller, Ezri, and Shain-brought her continued joy and pride. She was also eagerly awaiting the birth of her great-great-granddaughter to Joshua and Alaina, due any day now.
She is fondly remembered as "Aunt Fran" by a wide circle of extended family, nieces, and nephews-Dottie, Cassie, Megan, Noah, Wilfredo, Lamani, and Noel-and as "Franny" by her dear friend Marilyn and her loyal canine companion, Jade. Francesca became the matriarch of the Mangano and Sanfilippo families and will be deeply missed by all, especially her niece Ann Marie (Bill Cavage) and her Mangano cousins: Anthony, Eileen, James, John, Lillian, Denise, Anita, Frances, Joseph, Jeanette, and John Simon.
Francesca was strong, resilient, and kind-hearted, and lived a rich, full life despite the challenges she faced. Her family is deeply grateful to the loving staff of ACT1 Connections of Delaware and Bayada Home Health Care, who provided invaluable support in her later years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at St. John/Holy Angels Church, 82 Possum Park Road, Newark, DE 19711. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., prior to the Mass.
A Celebration of Life luncheon will follow at 1:00 p.m. Interment will take place on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery 26223 Seaford Road, Seaford, Delaware.
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