Frank Petrozzi
October 03, 1921 - August 05, 2012
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Frank Petrozzi
October 03, 1921 - August 05, 2012
Obituary
Frank Petrozzi was born in Vensseux, France on October 3, 1921. He was the youngest of 9 children – 3 boys and 6 girls. When Frank was 6 weeks old his father took the family back to war torn Sora, Italy. His sisters, Louise and Marquerite went back to France. They later married and established families in France. A couple of Frank’s other siblings, John and Domenick, emigrated to the US.
Frank worked on the family farm from the time he was a young child until he left Italy. During World War II he was a cook in the Italian army. Frank met Mary Tersigni, the love of his life, in 1945. They had a courtship in which the saw each other only a couple of times a month. They were married three years later on January 18, 1948. His first daughter Anna was born on October 5, 1948.
Wanting a better life for his wife and daughter Anna, Frank came to US in 1951. He didn’t know a word of English when he came to America. Approximately 9 months later, Mary and Anna joined him. When the family arrived in the US they lived in Schenectady, New York. Here Frank and Mary’s second daughter, Rosemary, was born on February 19, 1956 and their son Phil was born on August 15, 1958.
Willing to work hard Frank started in the construction trade as a ‘ditch digger.’ He worked his way up the ladder and eventually became a partner in the Impala Construction Company. The construction company renovated and built homes, schools, and stores.
Frank and his family moved to Detroit, Michigan so he could work at Ford Motor Co. He worked the swing shift at Ford and construction during the day.
Following Phil’s graduation from high school, Frank, Mary, and Phil moved to California to be near Anna and Rosemary. At the age of 55 Frank opened the business Windmill Liquor and Deli with his wife Mary, daughter Anna, and son-in-law Mike. When the family business was sold, about 3 years later, he went to work at Alpha Beta.
Throughout his life, Frank was always doing construction side jobs with his wife Mary beside him. Additionally, with his wife Mary, Frank designed and built a total of three homes for the family.
His heart saddened with the loss of his daughter Rosemary on November 25, 2006. He took care of his wife Mary when she became ill with Parkinson’s disease and dementia. No one took care of his wife better than he did. Mary died on February 16, 2010. Frank was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2010, after his wife’s death. Frank died on August 5, 2012. He was always willing to help his children, grandchildren, and friends. No task was too small, tedious, tiring, or boring. He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him dearly.
12 responses to Frank Petrozzi
Michelle Waugh says:
August 10, 2012
Francis Baumgartner sent this message “I’m sorry to hear about your loss and i hope you’re good, my sincerest condolences. i remember him from my two visits in mission viejo and i am happy to have met him. “
Michelle Waugh says:
August 10, 2012
This message is from Sabrina Cecchini “HI Michelle, Maud told us about your grandfather…It is so sad. I imagine your sadness because you lived near of him all your life. We pray for him. Please accept all our condolences and, please, transfer this message to your whole family. Take care. Kiss”
Michelle Waugh says:
August 10, 2012
Here is a message from Jean Pierre Broginni “We were saddened to learn of the death of Uncle Francis, we offer our condolences to your parents and the whole family. We keep excellent memories of your grandfather that we loved.
Love,
Jean Pierre Gini and our whole family”
In French “Nous sommes très tristes d’apprendre le décès d’oncle François, nous adressons toutes nos condoléances à tes parents ainsi qu’à toute la famille. Nous garderons un excellent souvenir de ton grand père que nous aimions beaucoup.
Love,
Jean Pierre Gini et toute notre famille”
Michelle Waugh says:
August 10, 2012
Here is a message Alaiin sent it was written in French and translated by google translate “in France everyone knows that Uncle Frank has joined her sister and all the other,we experienced the last of the brothers Petrozzi home with her aunt and anna all families in 2003 we even speak Italian and French as good memories as we speak often of marguerite EST brothers settle in usa and kiss alain anne”
Here it is in French ” en france tout le monde sait que le tonton frank a rejoint sa soeur marguerite et tout les autre; ;nous avons connus le dernier des freres petrozzi chez lui avec la tante et anna et toute la familles en 2003 on parler meme italien et français que de bon souvenir car marguerite nous parler souvent de cest freres installer au usa bise alain et anne”
Alisa Facchini Stewart says:
August 12, 2012
I’m going to paraphrase a story that Uncle Frank told me several times. He was new to this country and had trouble finding a good job. The foremen simply didn’t trust newcomers. At one job site, Uncle Frank kept coming back, trying to convince the foreman that he was a good, strong worker. Finally the guy gave in and told Uncle Frank to cut down some trees that needed to be cleared along the property. The way Uncle Frank told the story, the foreman said that just to get rid of him; he was sure it would take all day for a man to remove just one of the trees, so he wouldn’t have to see Frank again that week. But in the afternoon, Uncle Frank came back to the foreman, looking for more work. The foreman was furious. He told him to go back to cutting trees, and leave him alone! Uncle Frank explained that he couldn’t go back to cutting trees, because he’d already cut them all down! He didn’t have any trouble finding work after that.
Uncle Frank stayed busy all the way ’til the end. When he was 75, he built the bathroom and porch at my house in Santa Monica. Just like his sister (my grandma) and all the other Petrozzis, he was an indomitable force. In fact, I’m pretty sure he’s still working somewhere… Probably laying out a new patio for St. Peter.