Francine Parise

With a mixture of sadness and serenity, the Parise family shares the passing of our beloved mother and Nana, Francine Parise. Fran died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of January 18, 2023 after an extremely long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Fran was born in Brooklyn, New York, the first child of Charles and Elvira (Cipriano) Mantione. She was later joined by her sister, Josephine. With fiery Sicilian and Neopolitan blood, Frannie was a presence and a force from the very beginning. She loved telling us stories of her childhood and of her countless uncles, aunts and cousins, told in the way only Fran could tell a story.

Fran received her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education from Hunter College in the sixties. (The picture above is her college graduation photo.) Born to teach, she worked in the Brooklyn Public Schools for several years before marrying William Clement Parise, Jr. in 1968. Fran gave birth to three sons, William (Billy among Brooklynites, later, Bill); Martin and Stephen. She stopped teaching to create a nursery and kitchen and playground and theater and classroom and haven for them.

In the early eighties, no earthly force could keep Fran from returning to her teacher’s calling. Substitute teaching to get back in the swing, with often less than an hour’s notice, she eventually landed at P.S. 229 in Bensonhurst where she taught kindergarten until her retirement in 2008. If it had been possible, she would have never stopped. For so many little boys and girls, Fran was their first teacher. Revered by parents, she’d be stopped in the street to be thanked and praised; if seen in restaurants, they’d offer to pay her tab. Fran loved her friends and her principal at P.S. 229, and we will never forget how they loved and cared for her.

The mid-nineties were difficult years for Fran, caring for and burying first her husband, then her father, and finally her mother, all within three years. She became the primary support for her ill sister, overseeing Jo’s care until her death. Still, the exhaustion and overwhelm and grief could never ultimately be a match for Fran. A warrior and survivor, a workhorse, her love and strength and loyalty, her sense of honor and duty--all were a marvel to behold.

Fran was hilarious--intentionally and, on occasion, unintentionally. In the vernacular of the respective times, she was a “hoot”, a “trip”. She was known to have an opinion or two from time to time and, if you didn’t agree, she wasn’t terribly shy about letting you know you were wrong. Fran loved life and laughter, loved art and theater. She loved Brooklyn and her house and (most of) her neighbors in Dyker Heights, she loved Manhattan and its museums and its art galleries and theaters. She loved to travel, visiting family and destinations all over the United States and Europe and the world.

She loved her surviving family, her sons and her daughters-in-law, Brette (with Bill) and Emiko (Emi, with Martin). Among her greatest joys, she cherished her four grandchildren: Hannah, Maya, Louisa and William. She always loved spending time with them and playing with them and being in their company.

Although moving to Charlotte was an adjustment for her, as Fran aged, she continued to make friends in her managed care setting. Although you might not have heard from her or seen or talked to her in some time, Fran was very much alive, and her life was active and full. Caring staff members never hesitated to tell us how much they loved and appreciated her. In years past, an angel engaged her in creative activities and conversation, taking her shopping and out to eat. In recent times, another angel lovingly cared for Frannie in her hours and days of greatest physical need. For the last two and a half years, Fran was loved and cared for by the staff at Hospice and Palliative Care – Charlotte Region, especially by two appointed angels.

How blessed Fran and our family have been, even in her final years and months and weeks!

Among Fran’s many virtues, she was generous and giving, and her heart always had a place for those less fortunate and in need and distress. While you should feel no obligation to do so, in lieu of flowers or other gifts, you may wish to make an offering to Hospice and Palliative Care – Charlotte Region. Or you may wish to donate any of the worthy Alzheimer’s organizations, or to people or causes that touch you.

The Parise family encourages you to leave us a message or a memory of how Fran has touched your life. Perhaps there is even a picture somewhere you’d like to share. We are fortunate to have so many, and we will continue to add some as time goes on. We hope you will use this obituary and website as a place of gathering and remembrance. Even if you were never lucky enough to know our mother, our mother-in-law, and our grandmother, we would love to hear from you.

Until we see you again Mom.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcewenfs.com for the Parise family.