Frances Washinko

A giving mother, caring and loving grand-mother and great-grandmother, Frances (DiGrazio) Washinko was called home, to join her beloved husband George, early Friday Morning after a long and tough battle with congestive heart failure. Her full and love-filled life began in the East-end of Norristown, as the oldest of five children born to Florence (Sperduto) and Antonio DiGrazio. Her three brothers: Albert, Joseph, and Salvatore preceded her in death. Working and supporting her country during World War II, like so many other American women; Frances soon after the end of the war, met a young sailor name George Washinko from Dunmore. They fell in love, and the two married at Holy Saviour Church in Norristown. Living on High Street in Norristown, she began to raise the first two of her three children. Veronica (McGuigan) and Dianna (Loader) were followed by son George after the couple moved to the West-end of Norristown, on Noble Street in the mid-1950's in what would be her home for more than 50 years. As the wife of a school teacher, and mother to three, Frances was active in her children's schooling serving on PTA's, baking and volunteering at school. After their graduations, Frances was able to dedicate more time to her faith community as part of the Lady's Sodality, Padre Pio prayer group and later the senior citizens groups of her parish. In addition to her life-long devotion to the Blessed Mother, and to St. Pio, Frances attended mass each weekday well into her 80's at St. Francis Church until her health made that no longer possible. Her summers were marked by her time stretching dough to be fried during her church's annual Holy Saviour Feast held each August. She would share laughs and stories with her friends from church over the hot fryers for those three nights each summer. She also enjoyed the friday night bingo sessions Holy Saviour Parish routinely held through the 1970's and 1980's. Her bingo passion spawned the annual New Year's Day family tournaments held with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who brought their piggy-banks for the dime per card game. Losing George after just 32 years of marriage, Frances shifted gears from traditional housewife, to independent home owner. Learning to drive in her 50's, her robin's egg shell colored blue Nova would take her everywhere she needed. Her family often joked about her small driving radius, a testament to a Norristown now gone that contained everything (grocers, doctors, department stores, and her entire family) which she needed. In the early 1990's she became involved in Norristown politics and often recalled how she enjoyed meeting such wonderful people throughout her home town as they no doubt felt the same about her. Grandmother to six and great-grandmother to six, each one knew their birthdays would include a phone call from "Gram" singing Happy Birthday which ended in her trademark "and many more..."; as she wished them at least as many happy birthdays as she herself enjoyed. After suffering the loss of her husband, parents, and other siblings, Frances's final heart-break came earlier this year as her daughter Dianna passed away from a year-long battle with a rare cancer. A viewing will be held on Monday evening September 10, 2012 from 7-9pm at the Caramenico Funeral Home, Main & Walnut Streets, Ntn, PA. Friends and family will also be received on September 11, 2012 from 8:30-9:15am at the funeral home. A mass of Christian burial will take place at the Holy Saviour Church, 407 E Main St. Norristown, following the viewing. Burial will take place in the St. Patrick's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Holy Saviour Church 407 E Main St. Norristown, PA 19401

Funeral Home:
Caramenico Funeral Home
403 E Main St
Norristown, PA
US 19401
Events

Cemetery

Tuesday, September 11, 2012
10:30AM - 10:45AM
St. Patrick's Cemetery
2400 Dekalb Pike
East Norriton, PA 19401
Phone: 610-272-4385

Visitation

Monday, September 10, 2012
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Caramenico Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.
403 E. Main St.
Norristown, PA 19401
Email: info@caramenicofuneralhome.com
Phone: (610) 275-7777

Visitation

Tuesday, September 11, 2012
12:00AM
Caramenico Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.
403 E. Main St.
Norristown, PA 19401
Email: info@caramenicofuneralhome.com
Phone: (610) 275-7777

Service

Tuesday, September 11, 2012
9:30AM - 10:30AM
Holy Saviour Church
407 E Main Street
Norristown, PA 19401
Phone: 610-275-0958

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