Frances Mortillaro Papia

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frances Papia, age 98, a remarkable person who touched so many lives.  Frances was born in Sicily in 1923 to Josephine and Joseph Mortillaro. She immigrated to this country with her husband, Destrino Papia, and her two children in 1955 in hopes of making a better life for their family. Unfortunately, she was widowed nine months later, left stranded in a strange country with only a first-grade education and two young children to support. Accustomed to hard work, she often worked two jobs, as a seamstress during the day and doing laundry at night. After her retirement at age 75, she enjoyed spending her days babysitting nine great-grandchildren.  Besides her family, she loved cooking, sewing, gardening, crocheting, and attending daily Mass.

Predeceased by her husband, Destrino, she is survived by her children: Angela Hersey (Mel), and Joseph Papia (Lynn); her grandchildren: Sue Hersey Williams (Joe), Diane Sanka (Allen), Tana Sherrick (Chris), Jennifer Guevara (Jamie), Brian Papia; and ten great-grandchildren: Alexandra Dreyfus, Shelby Williams, Morgan Browning (Carter), Alyse Sherrick, Forrester Sherrick, Meghan Sherrick, Wendy Sanka, Kai Guevara, Kaylani Guevara, and Caiden Guevara.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude’s Hospital will be appreciated.