Francesca Robison

FRANCESCA (MINCHELLA) ROBISON Francesca was born to Saverio Sesta and Palma Galioto Sesta in San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily, October 10, 1920. She immigrated to the United States in 1927 with her mother and sister, Michelina, to join her father who had immigrated in the early 1920's to establish citizenship and a life for his family in America. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle School and High School in Ann Arbor, MI. She married Ernest Minchella, Sr., on July 3, 1939. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Minchella, Sr., her husband, John L. Robison and her sister and brother-in-law, Michelina and Paul Tramontin. She is survived by her son, Ernie Minchella; nephews, John, Sam, Joe, Paul Jr., and Michael Tramontin and niece, Ann Tramontin Rogers and many great and grand nephews and nieces and many loving friends. After 70 years in the U.S., Francesca visited her home town in Sicily in May, 1997 attending Mass on Mother's Day in the Church where she was baptized. She returned in 2000 celebrating her 80th birthday in Florence, Italy, seeing an opera at La Scala in Milan and Phantom of the Opera in London. It gave her great joy to see and visit with her family including first cousins in Sicily. She moved to Tucson in 1952 from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, with her husband and son where she assisted her husband in moving his music business from the Detroit area, then working for Tucson Newspapers National Advertising Dept., assisting her son in establishing his interior decorating business and working with him for over 20 years. She married John L. Robison in August 1977 and was widowed in October 1977. She retired in 1999 and has been living at Handmaker Jewish Home for the Aging since September 2004. Her family wishes to thank the entire staff of Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging for their gentle and competent care and the entire staff, doctors, nurses of University Medical Center for the gentle caring help in making Francesca's and the family's final hours together as comfortable as possible. Friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 25, 2006 at St. Francis Cabrini, 3201 E. Presidio Road followed by a Scriptural Wake Service at 8:00 p.m. Mass will be offered at noon on Friday, May 26, 2006 at St. Francis Cabrini with Msgr. Robert Fuller officiating. Burial will follow in Tucson Memorial Park East Lawn. Arrangements by BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway. May God bring you into his arms with joy.