Francesco Vano

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Regards, The staff at Edward F. Lieber Funeral Homes, Inc.

Francesco Vano was born to Annunziato & Giuseppina Vano in 1930 in a small town in southern Italy.  He was the oldest of six children, which made him the “second” father to his family.  They were very poor, so being the eldest he had to work extremely hard from a young age to help support his family.  At age 21, recognizing that there wasn’t much of a future in his small hometown, he immigrated to England in search of a better life.  He again worked very hard and sent most of his earnings back to Italy so that his family had the funds needed to immigrate as well.

In 1954 Francesco met the love of his life in England, an Italian immigrant herself, Antonia Ciufo, and they were married one year later.  Together they worked hard and were so proud that they were able to purchase their very own first home there.  They even started a business, the equivalent of an Italian ‘bodega’ in England so that all the Italian immigrants could have the taste of their home country.  Their two daughters were also born in England, Josephine and Tina. 

Francesco’s parents and siblings achieved their dream of immigrating to the US thanks to the help he provided.  And then, yearning to be close to his family, Francesco, Antonia and their girls left England in 1966 to join them in the United States.  They once again had to start establishing a life in New York, and it wasn’t easy.  But their hard work paid off and they were able to purchase their very own home in Corona, Queens. 

Frank’s proudest moments were those spent with his wife, two children, his son-in-laws, Dean & John, and his five grandchildren – he lived for all of them.  The eldest grandchild, his namesake, Frank, followed by his brother, Kris, his sole granddaughter, Toni, and the youngest, his twin angels Justin & Daniel.  Justin & Daniel were surely there to receive their Grandpa as he joined them in heaven.  And those of us left here will always cherish the memories we hold so dear of our beautiful, Papa.  Until we all meet again.