Frances Toscano

Born May 7th, 1930, in Bronx, NY to John {Giovanni} and Gaetano Zucchero. She attended P.S.45 and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1948.

Francesca lost her father to tuberculosis and diabetes in 1950. She lost her mother to cancer in 1955.

Around that same time, she met her one and only true love, Joseph Toscano, in 1952. They were married in 1953. In 1956 they had their first child Linda Ann and in 1959 their son Joseph Anthony. They moved from the Bronx to Brooklyn in 1960.

Francesca went on to have a varied and interesting professional life. Out of high school, she worked for General Electric and learned IBM machines. She later worked for the AT&T phone company but landed her career job at the American Stock Exchange in 1963 and continued working there for almost 22 years.

In 1985, she and her husband retired to Holiday City in Toms River NJ. This retirement community was the perfect fit for Fran and Joe because they loved to socialize, party, travel and dance. As a couple, they were renowned for their mastery of the Lindy dance. Her active interests included participation in the Women's club at Holiday City, recreational sports, volunteerism, Italian American club, dancing and travel. She fulfilled a life time dream by traveling to her ancestral home in 2006 - Sicily. Francesca also worked for Head Start and loved being around the children. She retired fully in 1992. In 1990 she was blessed with her one and only grandchild, Marin Sequoia Toscano who was her pride and joy for the remainder of her life.

On October 30th 2013, she lost her soulmate, husband and best friend, Joseph Toscano. She then relocated to Stuart, Florida to live with her daughter Linda and her son-in-law David who unfortunately passed away in June of 2017. She continued to live comfortably with her daughter Linda and died peacefully at home in her favorite chair.

Although her childhood presented many challenges due to her father's protracted illness as well as her own battles with a ruptured appendix and later pleurisy, she always recalled it as a beautiful time in her life. She was close with her parents and siblings. She spent summers by the ocean in Long Island and loved digging for clams with her feet! She was most happy when surrounded by loved ones, be it friends or family members. She loved to cook and often hosted holiday dinners in which she prepared legendary meals. Her generosity in this regard was boundless.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; her sisters Nicolina Milito {Lena} and Rosaria Cavataio {Rose}, her brother Joseph Zucchero {Joe} and her son-in-law David Campbell. Surviving are her children, Linda and Joseph; her daughter in law Helen and her granddaughter Marin.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 9th from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at the Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, 26 Mule Road, Toms River, NJ, 08755. Burial services will be held on February 10th beginning with a short prayer service at 10 AM at Quinn Hopping. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to UNICEF and envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.quinn-hoppingfh.com.