G. Francis "Fran" Deck

With great love and in celebration of a life beautifully lived, the family of G. Francis “Fran” Deck announces his peaceful passing on June 22, 2026. Born in Buffalo, New York in 1936, Fran moved to Toronto at the age of five, where he would spend his life and leave a lasting mark on the city he loved.

Fran grew up the son of G. Francis “Fran” Deck Sr. and his beloved wife Ellen, alongside his sisters Ellen Jane, Theresa, and Cathy. He graduated from Ryerson’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, and joined the family business, Fran’s Restaurant, the iconic Toronto landmark his father founded on Yonge Street at St. Clair Avenue in 1940.

G. Francis “Fran” Deck is survived by his beloved wife Anne; his children Anne Marie Ecclestone and her husband (Andrew), Karen and her former husband (David), Francis and his wife (Liseta), Glenn and his wife (Demi), and Brian and his wife (Amber); his grandchildren Kyle and his wife (Lawren), Christine and her husband (Harrison), Justin, Kaili, Jennifer, Ashley and her husband (Matthew), Jonathan, Kevin, Sam, and Rachel; his cherished great-granddaughter Maya; and his sister Theresa and her husband David. He was predeceased by his parents G. Francis “Fran” Deck Sr. and Ellen, and his sisters Ellen Jane and Catherine.

To know Fran was to know a man who made every room warmer. He was a natural storyteller with an inexhaustible supply of jokes, and an ability to make a friend out of anyone he met, whether a taxi driver, a care worker, or a stranger at the table next to him. He loved bringing his family together for brunches and parties.

Beyond his family and the restaurant, Fran gave generously to his community. For years he was a trusted presence in a men’s group, offering counsel, a steady ear, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from a life fully lived. His faith at St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish was a constant, and he carried it with him in the way he treated everyone around him.

In his later years, Fran faced health challenges with characteristic grace and good humor. The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the dialysis team at the CNIB, the staff and physicians at Sunnybrook Hospital, and the many care workers, nurses, and drivers who made his days fuller and more comfortable. He was grateful to every one of them, and made sure they knew it.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish at 11am on Monday, June 29th 2026.

In lieu of flowers please consider donation to Sunnybrook Hospital(link below), the CNIB(link below), or a charity of your choice.

Rest in peace, Fran. You always had a story for every occasion.