Tommasina Miano Franco

Tommasina Miano Franco
May 21, 1928 – October 1, 2025
Mrs. Tommasina Miano Franco of Daytona Beach, FL, was born Tommasina Barbieri on May 21, 1928, to Italian immigrants in Bronx, NY. Her parents came to the USA in search of a better life. Her father Vincenzo Hugo Barbieri arrived in NY City in 1920, from Torre di Ruggero, Calabria. Her mother Antoinetta Abate arrived in NY City in 1924 from Reggio, Calabria. Antoinetta was born in Ferryville, Tunisia, where her parents worked. Tommasina's parents were married in Manhattan on April 23, 1927.
Tommasina is remembered as a dedicated mother, grandmother, housekeeper, caretaker, community volunteer, and fantastic cook. She always found time to help her children and grandchildren and create world-class dinners.
Tommasina, known as Tommie to those closest to her, grew up in the Bronx during The Great Depression of the 1930s and 1940s. Despite those challenging times, she lived a carefree childhood among friends and families from The Old Country.
Tommie was an excellent student at Theodore Roosevelt High School. After graduating she worked as a secretary for a pearl jeweler in NYC. In the 1950s she also helped her parents at their restaurant in Bronxville, NY. Tommie found time for fun and frolic. One of her fondest memories was attending a Frank Sinatra concert in her late teens with her sister Millie, chaperoned by their mom.
Tommie and Sal met during their teens. Sal would provide valuable transportation around the neighborhood on the handlebars of his bike. Tommie later attended Sal's CYO baseball and basketball games. True love was in the making. Sal attended Cardinal Hayes High School, graduating in three years with WWII at its height and the draft in effect for 17-year-olds. Tommie and Sal were engaged to marry post-war. They wed on December 21, 1947.
The newlyweds lived on Crotona Avenue in the Bronx with Sal's family until 1955. Tommie helped to care for her ill father-in-law while also raising Joe and JoAnn. During that time Tommie's mother also was ill after the tragic death of her brother Alfredo.
In 1955, Tommie, Sal, Joe, and JoAnn moved into their own apartment on Garden Street, close to Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Shortly after Annette's birth in 1957, the family moved to a new two-family home in Dumont, NJ. Tommie's parents lived in the upper story where she cared for her father who developed cancer.
The youngest children, Vincent (born 1959) and Alfred (born 1962), joined the Miano family a few years before the family moved to Binghamton, NY in 1965, and then to Rochester, NY in 1967, where they resided for 15 years. When Sal retired from Xerox in 1982, he and Tommie moved to Daytona Beach, where Tommie cared for her aging mother. Sal passed away in 1992 at the age of 65.
Tommie loved helping her children and supporting their interests. Her cheers and screeches were customary background music at children's sporting events and high school plays in the 1970s. It was obvious to all when Tommie was in attendance.
Throughout her time in Rochester and Daytona Beach, Tommie served as a volunteer for several organizations, including the Red Cross Blood Drive, special needs children's schools, and other non-profits. Tommie also loved to walk. She was a member of The Happy Wanderers Walking Club of Port Orange, which traveled and walked throughout Florida every weekend.
In 2001, Tommie married Thomas Franco in Asheville, NC. The marriage united two large families which had ties to the Bronx and New Jersey from the 1930s. Papa Tom and Tommie traveled often – they loved cruises – and spent much of their time with children and grandchildren. Their singing and dancing were the life of any party. Papa Tom passed away on March 19, 2023, at the age of 95.
Tommasina is survived by her sister Carmella Pizzucco, her children Joseph Miano (Ruth), JoAnn Donatelli (Vince), Annette James (Al), Vincent Miano, Alfred Miano (Mary Ann), and her grandchildren Mike Donatelli (Christina), Rick James (Kellie), Sean James (Julie), Nicole VanAmburg (Eric), Tommy Miano (Brooke), Jessica Miano, and her great grandchildren Joshua, Morgana, Evin, Jaydon, Vivian, Jerrod (Heidi), Camryn (fiancé Braden), Kenzie (Tom), Sean-Michael, Jayden and Bennette. Also survived by nephews Ben Pizzucco (partner Becky), Louis Pidi (Claire) and Joseph Pidi.
Also survived by her stepchildren Teresa Franco, Emil Franco (Becky), Anthony Franco (Dunn), Thomas Franco, Jr. (Sheila), and Lisa Franco; grandchildren Michael (Andrea), Anthony (Ashlyn), Samantha (Mark), Kayla (fiancé Roy), Thomas III, Andrew, Jacob, Christopher, and David, and great grandchildren Mack, Collins Rose, Ellie Mae and Charli Kate.
Also survived by very special friends Wendy Grinko, Nickole Maity, Julie Jones, and Gina Owens. A special thank you to the aids, nurses and staff at Paradise Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Care in Ormond Beach.
Visitation for family and friends to be held Wednesday October 15, from 6-8 PM at Lohman's Daytona Memorial Park & Funeral Home, Daytona Beach, FL.
Funeral Mass to be held Thursday October 16, 8:30 AM at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, 4675 Clyde Morris Blvd. Port Orange, FL. Burial at Daytona Memorial Park, Daytona Beach, FL.
Arrangements entrusted to LOHMAN'S DAYTONA MEMORIAL PARK & FUNERAL HOME, 1423 Bellevue Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
386-267-1100 www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com