Francesca Pinello (Fran), of Jamison, Pa., passed away at her residence on March 17. She was 92. Her life, like those of millions of children of immigrant parents, was both unremarkable – in that it is a tale repeated so many times, and remarkable – in that only in America in her time could it have happened.
She was born to Italian immigrant parents Gennaro and Theresa Calise in a Lower East Side tenement of New York on Dec. 9, 1929. The family moved to Brooklyn where Fran became an excellent student and, after high school, became a pool typist at The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Manhattan, where she once graced the cover of the company magazine. In 1951 she met, Frank Pinello, who became the love of her life.
She and Frank were wed in New York City in April of 1953, remaining happily married for 45 years; until his death in March 1998. They settled briefly in Queens, N.Y., where she gave birth to son Bart in 1954 and 13 months later, another son, Frank.
In 1956, the couple moved to Massapequa, N.Y. – settling into a tract house built on potato fields; part of the great exodus into the suburbs.
But housewifery was not for Fran. As soon as she could she began working again. In 1967 she became employed by the School District of Farmingdale, Long Island, spending the majority of her tenure at Northside School as the administrative lead for the principal. She developed a reputation for being able to deftly handle the kids who spent time in the principal’s office by befriending them with a faux stern sense of humor.
She was a favorite of newly arrived immigrant Hispanic children trying to assimilate to their new country.
More success meant another move; this time to St. James, N.Y., in 1969. This home would become a favorite hangout of her son’s friends – Fran always a participant in all conversations.
She retired from Farmingdale Schools in 1989, and the couple followed their sons to New Hope, Pa.; where Fran always complained that you couldn’t find a decent bagel, and everyone was too friendly!
After her husband’s passing in 1998, Fran resided variously in Doylestown, Buckingham, and finally, Jamison, Pa. She’ll always be remembered in our hearts as a demanding and loving mom, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother, with a great sense of humor.
She is survived by her two sons, Bart Pinello of Newtown, Pa., and Frank Pinello (Jean Pinello); five grandchildren Edward, Katherine, Tori, Carl, and Diana; and a great-granddaughter Elle.
A visitation will be held at St. Martin’s of Tours Church in New Hope, Pa., on Saturday, March 26 at 10 a.m. with a Mass to be held at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
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