Francesca A. Hammerle

1942 - 2024

Francesca Hammerle, 81, of Lee, Massachusetts, passed away on February 5, 2024, days after having been diagnosed with Stage Four Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Francesca was born on the coast of the Ionian Sea, in Gallopoli, Italy, on April 28, 1942, to her parents, Angelo Aru and Vincenza (Palma) Aru. The family later moved to Brindisi, Italy, another beautiful coastal town on the Adriatic Sea.

Francesca made her way to the United States and eventually her life path led her to Berkshire County.

She was employed in the hospitality industry at many locally owned establishments. The Heritage House, The Snack Shop and Sophia's, all located in Lenox and Salmon Run, in Lee. It was at The Heritage House that she met Jerry Hammerle, who would become her husband. They married in 1976.

In years past, Francesca delighted in traveling, having returned to see family in Brindisi, Italy a precious few times. She also enjoyed traveling with family to Maine and traveling to Arizona to visit with family. She found pleasure in cooking for her family. When she made meatballs, it was always a competition to see who got the last one! She appreciated spending time in her backyard reading or doing word search puzzles on nice days, having "spirited" conversations with her husband Jerry about what they were going to watch on the television, bouncing great grandchildren on her knee while singing "patty cake" in Italian to them, talking on the phone with her brothers and sisters, enjoying family time with her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her son, Jeffrey S. Hammerle and his wife, Kelly, of Otis, her daughter, Brenda Hammerle, of Lee, her sister-in-law, Carol Hammerle and her spouse, Kristine Servais of Green Valley, AZ, her stepson Brian Hammerle, of FL, a son James Thurston and daughter, Ruth Thurston. Seven grandchildren, Alicia Dulin and her husband Brian of Lee, Garrett Russell and his wife Lindsay of Wilmington, MA, Daulton McDarby of Lee, TJ Hammerle, of Pittsfield, Derek Halpin of CO, McKenna Hammerle, of Otis, Alyssa Hammerle of Pittsfield. Three great-grandchildren, Boston and Asher Dulin of Lee and Oliver Russell of Wilmington, MA. She is further survived by her sister Luigia and her husband Robert Schettini, of Pittsfield, her sister Lucia Holleran of CA, her sister Antoinette and her husband Alfredo Brando, her brother Giovanni Aru and his wife Lina, her brother Pietro Aru and his wife Franca, her brother Antonio Aru and his wife Ginetta, her brother Claudio Aru and his wife Lina all of Italy. Francesca was blessed to be survived by many loving nieces and nephews in Pittsfield, California and Italy.

Francesca was predeceased by her husband, Gerald Hammerle, in 2021, her son Timothy J. Hammerle, in 2019, her parents, Angelo and Vincenza Aru, her sister Rosa Aru and her mother-in-law, Mary Hammerle in 1995.

Services will be held at Saint Mary's Church, Main St, Lee, on Friday, February 23, 2024, at 11:00 am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, friends and family may make donations in her memory to the Lee Senior Center, c/o Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main St., Lee MA 01238.

If you would like to leave a message of condolence please visit our website at www.kellyfuneralhome.net