Francesca Cavaliere Carbone

1920 - 2016

July 13, 1920 – April 24 2016
Francesca Cavaliere Carbone passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Thunder Bay, with her family at her side. She was born to parents Rosa Nisi and Giuseppe Cavaliere in Pulsano, Taranto, Italy on July 13, 1920, the eldest and only girl in a family of 5 children. After marrying Emilio Carbone in 1942 and starting their family, Franca and Emilio made plans to immigrate to Canada. Like many of their countrymen living in poverty in post war Italy, they looked ahead to prosperity and a bright future for their children. Emilio came ahead to secure a job and work until his family could join him. In 1952, Franca and her three children Maria Teresa, Mimmo and Santino made the long voyage to Canada to reunite with her husband and their father, leaving behind their families and all that was familiar. Two Canadian born sons, Giuseppe and Renato, completed the family in the years following her arrival.

Being raised with strong family values, all of Franca's brothers, Franco (Cicco), Paolo, Tonino and Carlo were dear to her but she developed a special lifelong relationship with her brother Tony, who she sponsored to join her in Canada a few years following her immigration.

Franca had brought with her all of her Italian traditions and the recipes for the wonderful peasant food she had been raised on, food that has now become gourmet fare. Over the years, the Carbone household became the meeting place for much of the Italian community in Sioux Lookout, in particular on Sundays when the men would gather to play bocce and the women would socialize and cook while the children played. The families were many, including the Bellons, Mannos, Durantes, Zinkewicz, Bastones, Zaffinos, DeRoses, Gervasis, Corvellos, and Cospitos. Making a life for your family in a new land held many challenges but Franca never forgot the help she received from the Italian community when she arrived in Sioux Lookout in 1952.

Franca was a woman of strong faith and trust in God. She believed that gathering around the table to share a meal was essential to a Christian family and she welcomed anyone who crossed her path to their table to share in the celebration of family and life. She spent her days being a homemaker…. spending a lot of time with dear friends Emilia Zinkiewicz and Luigina Bastone, cooking, sewing, nurturing their children and making a home for the family. They, along with many new friends, worked tirelessly for the church as longtime C.WL. members.

Whatever life threw at the family, Franca was always a source of hope and comfort. When there was a crisis she did not panic and was never uncertain about what to do; she always knew what was needed. She had a way of calming those around her and of reminding us that God would guide us through any circumstances. 'God will provide' and 'Do what is right' were the tenets that she lived by. She truly believed in God's love.

Franca was a very kind and sage woman, often offering advice to those in need. She would not speak ill of anyone, a lesson the family would all learn from.

The Carbone house, the house that Franca and Emilio built, was the centre of activity, often receiving friends and family from all over Canada and Italy.Emilio may have been the centre of attention, but Franca was the heart, soul and foundation of the entire family.

Franca's incredible talents as a seamstress allowed her the only job she ever held outside of her home in Canada, at Bellon's Tailor's Shop,completing sewing projects and alterations. Her family was always well dressed in the latest fashions, Teresa often being the envy of her peers with a new dress for the upcoming dance. She later began to work out of her home, creating many beautiful wedding dresses, gowns for bridal parties and stylish clothing for people in Sioux Lookout. She had an eye for detail and a memory that allowed her to precisely recall events of time and place with precision. One evening she entertained many of us by picking a leftover button from forty years back out of a large button jar and amazed us by telling a fabulous story relating the events, the time and place and circumstances around it. One by one, we selected buttons from the massive jar only to hear Franca recall the history of each with more lucidity than the last, while family and friends listened on in amazement. This same sharp memory allowed her to recall family birthdays, special occasions and details about all those she loved here in Canada and back in Italy… and to maintain a close relationship with her parents, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews all so far away but close in her heart. To her, everyone mattered.

The Carbone home was a refuge - for Franca's children, their children's children, and for her family's friends. It was where they enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. Emilio had three gardens, raised chickens and rabbits, harvested wild mushrooms and berries and grew grapes. Like many Italians, they were of the earth. Franca and Emilio always shared the bounty of the harvest with others

Being very much her Mother's daughter, Teresa gave her mother something that no one else could - her loving care for over 14 years, significantly enriching her mother's long fruitful life. No one will miss Franca more than her daughter, whose care for her mother embodies the principles that Franca bestowed upon her children.

When someone lives to the age of 95, they see and experience a lot. Our Franca lived through the great depression, allied invasions, famine, immigration from sunny, southern Italy to the frozen north of Canada, learning a new language, raising a family, losing a husband, losing a son, moving in with her daughter and the loss of independence. Through all this, she remained steadfast in her virtues of love of family and love of God.

Franca is survived by her children Teresa (Tony), Mimmo (Marla), Santino (Nancy), Giuseppe (Betty), and daughter-in-law Melanie, Grandchildren Angela, Daniela, Tony Jr., Neely, Carlo, Joel, John-Mark, Nicole, Christopher, Neil, Laura, Sebastian, Noah and Great-grandchildren Valentino, Paloma, Dante, Adam, Jesse, Meila, Caleb, Sarah, Noah, Anthony, Isabella, Sophia, Calla, Theodore, Marius and Christian. She is also survived by her brothers Carlo and Tonino.

She was predeceased by her husband Emilio, her son Renato, her brothers Franco and Paolo, her parents and numerous extended family members.

Franca had a strong character, she was uniquely wise, and someone who has enriched our lives. She was special, and although we are bereaved, we are secure in the knowledge that she is with God and she has left her indelible and lasting love in all of us.

Mass of the Resurrection was held at Sacred Heart Church, Sioux Lookout on Thursday April 28, 2016 with Father Mike Mahoney officiating. Active Pallbearers were grandsons Tony Crispino Jr., Christopher Carbone, Neil Carbone, John Mark Carbone, Sebastian Carbone and Noah Carbone.

If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Thunder Bay St. Joseph Palliative Care Unit or the charity of your choice through the Sioux Lookout Funeral Home, Box 1449, Sioux Lookout Ontario, P8T 1B9. Online condolences may be emailed to slfh@tbaytel.net