Frank Albanese

Francesco Albanese, age 64, peacefully passed at his home surrounded with the love of his family on October 25^th, 2017. Francesco (Frank) was born in Alcamo, Sicily on April 24^th, 1953. He was the oldest of his siblings, Salvatore, Giuseppe, and Francesca Albanese and the son of Ignazio and Norina Albanese. In 1972 he was introduced to Maria Vallone, a young Italian woman that was sent to meet him from the United States for the first time. Although he was about to serve two years in the military, he and Maria met, and for those two years wrote love letters to one another until they would hold hands again. They united those hands in marriage on July 29^th, 1974. Frank and Maria moved back and forth from Sicily to Michigan several times until planting their roots in Wyoming, MI. They journeyed together in business by serving up delicious homemade pizza together, Maria being the warm welcoming face of the shop, and Frank hand tossing the best pizza around. For years they gained new customers that eventually became friends and strong patrons of the business until the very end. Frank and Maria had four children, Ignazio, Vito, Norina, and Francesco. Frank’s family meant everything to him and they were the reason that he stayed in Michigan, leaving behind his family in Sicily. He knew the life he could give them here, and he knew how hard he would have to work to make sure they had everything they needed to be happy. But Frank defined what it meant to be happy differently than most. Maybe, at first, the lesson was hard to see, but as the family grew together and grew older, his message was very strong; work hard and earn everything you get, be fair to everyone, be good to everyone, have a good laugh, and take care of your family above all. He woke up early each day to prepare the shop for opening and was the one to turn off the “open” sign each night. He closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and took just a few short trips back to Sicily over the years. His hard work and determination to give his family a life was inspiring. He wouldn’t have done any of it though if it hadn’t been for the love of his life, Maria, standing there right by his side. She was the brightness in his life and he adored her until his last breath. She was the smile, the laughter, the beauty in their relationship and truly his partner through everything. He shared that passion with his children as well. Frank was a man of very few words, but when he spoke, everything he said had meaning and purpose. He was a strong, Italian man and did not always verbally express his heart, but he didn’t need to. He had a way in his eyes of expressing his love for his wife and kids and there was never a question of the joy he had, and mostly when he was surrounded by his family. He shared his message of love to all of them in his final moments, and his kids made sure he knew what an amazing man and father he was. His heart was filled with love and every great intention that a man should have for his family. And even in his final days on earth, he still awoke to the sound of his wife’s voice and made sure the last thing he did was kiss her and share how much he loved her. Franceso Albanese is survived by his adoring wife, Maria Albanese; his oldest son, Ignazio Albanese (Erin Albanese); his only son born in Sicily, Vito Albanese (Brenda Albanese); his only daughter and apple of his eye, Norina (Albanese) Cadili (Christopher Cadili); and his youngest boy and name sake, Francesco Albanese (Michelle Albanese). He had eight grandchildren that adored him, Rocco, Lena, Salvatore, Gianna, Giavanna, Mariella, Miyah, Dallas. They brought out the sweetness in him and it was apparent to all that his heart was full when his grandchildren were surrounding him. He is also survived by his brothers, Salvatore and Giuseppe Albanese; and his one and only sister, Francesca. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ignazio and Norina Albanese. A Mass of Christian Burial for Francesco will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 101 Hall SE, Grand Rapids, with Fr. Ted Kozlowski presiding. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family on Sunday from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4031 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming, with a rosary to be held at 7 pm. .