Frances Lydia Lemos

Frances Lydia Lemos passed away peacefully at the age of 96, on the morning of April 20, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt, and a proud longtime resident of American Canyon, a city she helped incorporate and cherished deeply. Known by many as the “Queen of American Canyon,” Fran dedicated much of her life to her community and to the people she loved most. From her involvement with City Council, the Kiwanis Club, the Red Hatters, to her work at the Sutter Solano Thrift Shop and her beloved Holy Family Church, she was truly embedded in this community.

Fran was born on July 29, 1929, in Vallejo, CA, the youngest of six children born to Italian immigrants, Amadeo Govi and Sophia Seghi Govi. She grew up surrounded by love. She played softball in school and loved the team aspect of the sport, an early glimpse of the strong sense of community and connection that would define her life. She met her husband, Peter Lemos, in 1945 at an ice cream parlor and it was love at first sight. They were married on November 29, 1947. As a wedding present, Pete’s family gave them a piece of land in the unincorporated section of northern Vallejo called Napa Junction. With the help of her dad and family, they built their own home and famously danced together in the empty living room when the house was finished. They raised four children in their modest home, and took immense pleasure in hosting family and friends, including annual Easter egg hunts for the extended family, a tradition so special it has since been revived by the next generation of Lemos great-grandchildren. She and Pete loved to travel up and down the California coast, to Yosemite, Nevada, Idaho and Canada with her sisters and their husbands. After Pete’s passing, her sister, Annie Brown, moved in with her and she continued her love of travel by visiting many countries including their beloved Italy.

Fran was a member of the American Canyon Historical Society and was instrumental in incorporating the city of American Canyon and shaping its landscape over the decades. She worked for over twenty years as the office manager at National Auto Parts in Vallejo and, in retirement, devoted even more of her time to the community she loved. She volunteered at the Sutter Solano Thrift Store for over thirty years, working tirelessly to organize the store and acting as a rotating chairperson. She gave unofficial city tours to people new to the community, always including the history and stories of the city. She served as the director of the American Canyon Fire Board until 1992 and later as a board member of the Boys and Girls Club and the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce. In 1996, the Napa County Commission on the Status of Women honored her and thirty-nine other women in a published series, “Generations of Caring, Profiles of Napa County Women”. She was a founding member of the American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation, and a proud member of the Sons of Italy, including serving as an alternate on their bocce ball team, which she credited with keeping her young. She credited her commitment to community service to her dad, who was deeply proud to have immigrated to this country and become an American.

Her impact on the community was lasting and visible, including a street named in her honor, Fran Lemos Lane, and the Lemos Pointe apartment complex, both in Watson Ranch. On March 19, 2023, she was named the 2023 Woman of the Year for Napa County by United States Congressman Mike Thompson. On April 17, 2026, just days before she passed, the City of American Canyon honored her with the Gateway Lifetime Achievement Award, the city’s highest recognition for community service.

Fran was thrilled when American Canyon High School opened in 2010, sparking a special passion for supporting the school, especially the choir, which captured her heart. Her generosity knew no bounds. If there was a cause close to someone’s heart, she was there to support it. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, not just for her four children, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, but for their partners as well. She made people feel seen, loved, supported, and cared for. She had a way of making everyone feel like they mattered deeply, because to her, they truly did. She often reminded us, “it is what it is”, a simple phrase that reflected her resilience and the way she faced life with strength, grace, and acceptance.

Fran is deeply missed by her surviving family; children Ronald, Randall (Deborah), Rebecca (Scott), and Richard (Heidi), along with her beloved grandchildren Shawn, Ryan (Erin), Samuel (Louisa), Katherine (John), Elisabeth (Adam), Andrea (Rick), and Garrett (Charlotte). She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Peter Lemos, her parents, Sophia and Amadeo Govi, her brothers Frank, John, and Harry Govi, and sisters Annie Brown and Dorothy Branch. Fran was the heart of her family, strong and loving, the glue that kept everyone connected. Her presence filled every room, and her absence leaves a space that will never be filled, though her love will remain with all of us who knew her.

As per Fran’s wishes, a rosary will be held on April 27, 2026, at The Twin Chapels Mortuary in Vallejo, CA at 6 PM. A private burial will take place the following day with immediate family. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 25, 2026, at the Boys and Girls Club at 1 PM, where friends and family are invited to gather, share memories, and honor her life and legacy.

Fran will be forever loved and never forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fran’s honor to the American Canyon High School Choir or the Boys and Girls Club of American Canyon.