Frances M. "Fran" Cavalieri

Waterford - Frances "Fran" M. Cavalieri, 88, of 13 Willow St., Waterford, entered eternal life on June 20, 2009.

She was born May 13, 1921, in New London, the daughter of the late Mariano and Vincenza (Insinga) DelMonte. She attended local schools and graduated from the former Williams Memorial Institute, class of 1940.

She was united in marriage to Rocco Cavalieri on Sept. 25, 1943 in St. Mary Star of the Sea Church; Mr. Cavalieri survives her.

Mrs. Cavalieri formerly worked at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital and later for the former London Luggage Store in the New London Mall, from which she retired. She was active with reunion events for W.M.I., and she regularly attended W.M.I. luncheons. Frances life was devoted to her family; a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

Besides her beloved husband, Rocco of 66 years of marriage, she is survived by three sons, Billy Cavalieri and his wife, Judy, of Tarpon Springs, Fla., Richard Cavalieri and his wife, Helen, of Niantic, Jim Cavalieri and his wife, Tracy, of Waterford; a sister, Mary Diedrich of Waterford; ten grandchildren, Billy, Bobby, Michelle, Elizabeth, Rocco, Jamie, Alysha, Emily, Anna, and Isabel; and six great-grandchildren, Jacob, Mitchell, Jaclyn, Jamie, Tyler, and Brennan.

She was predeceased by seven siblings, Anthony, Albert, and James DelMonte, Palma Tucchio, Josephine Petrini, Pauline Perrino, and Florence DelMonte.

Her family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Ave., New London. The funeral will assemble at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph Church. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, PO Box 3704, Memphis TN 38173-9966 or Hospice Southeastern CT, 227 Dunham St., Norwich CT 06360 or CT Community Care, 372 West Main St., Norwich CT 06360.