Francis J Gemelli

Francis J. Gemelli, 72, of North Grafton, passed away peacefully, Monday July 25th 2011, in Milford Regional Hospital, surrounded by his loving family, following a thirty-five year affliction with Multiple Sclerosis. Frank is survived by his loving wife of forty-five years, Juanita M. (Brasley) Gemelli; two sons, Stephen F. Gemelli of Worcester and Kevin J. Gemelli and his wife Sheree of Danielson, CT; two daughters, Suzanne M. Ritacco and her husband Kenneth of Westborough and Angela K. Lukasevicz and her husband Ricky of South Grafton; five cherished grandchildren, Shawn Gemelli, Anthony and Jake Ritacco, Matthew and Jillian Lukasevicz. He is also survived by two brothers, Ralph Gemelli and his wife Pat of Holden and Victor Gemelli and his wife Ginger of North Grafton; three sisters, Janet Murphy and her husband Tom of Sandwich, Susan McFadden and her husband Ron of Penacook, NH, and Joanne Hooley and her husband James of West Roxbury; cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his brother John Gemelli. Frank was born in Boston, son of Francis and Gertrude (Miner) Gemelli. He grew up in the Mattapan section of Boston, where he enjoyed the closeness of his family and neighbors. He graduated from Hyde Park High School and attended Northeastern University. He later served his nation proudly in the United States Air Force. Frank worked for over thirty years at Honeywell, where he was a data analyst and computer parts specialist. Following his retirement from Honeywell he worked for a couple of years as the maintenance man at Our Lady of Loreto Church, where he met new and wonderful people that treated him like family. When his illness required that he stop working, he became a daily fixture at the donut shop in North Grafton, where he would dispense his jokes (many of them corny) and kindly words of wisdom. He was a devoted member of Saint Mary's Church in North Grafton where he was a long-time member of the choir and Bishop's Fund volunteer. He enjoyed baseball and was a devoted Red Sox fan. He enjoyed harness racing, "The Wonder of It All" and visiting other Native American Reservations in Connecticut. He enjoyed the company of other people and was a natural born teller of tales. He was a good and caring man, and will be missed by many. Frank was extremely proud of his family, and the births of his grandchildren gave him a bright new spark and he treasured every opportunity that he could be with them. The Gemelli family would like to thank his care givers at Saint Camillus Nursing Home in Whitinsville for their constant care and loving support of Frank and the family. The family would also like to thank the very kind people at Milford Regional Hospital for their compassion in making his final days comfortable for him and the family. Calling hours for Frank will be held on Thursday, July 28th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. His Funeral will be held on Friday, July 29th from the funeral home with a Mass at 11 am in his parish church, Saint Mary, 17 Waterville Street, North Grafton. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, North Grafton. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the patient activity fund at Saint Camillus Nursing Home, 447 Hill Street, Whitinsville, MA 01588. To share your thoughts and memories of Frank, please visit his personal guestbook at: www.mercadantefuneral.com