Maria "Nina" Francalancia

Maria (Nina) Francalancia, 94, of Northborough, Massachusetts, formerly of Center Township and West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania died on Monday, July 3, 2023.

Nina was born on July 2, 1929 in Toro, Italy, to the late Antonio and Maria Rosario Serpone. She married Carmen Francalancia in 1956 and then immigrated to the United States in 1957, settling in West Aliquippa and raising two sons, Nicola and Anthony.

Nina was devoted to her family and was a talented cook and seamstress. She created authentic Italian meals and clothing to the delight of her family and friends. Nina enjoyed making homemade soups (adhering to her catchphrase, “It’s a good day for soup”), pasta, cookies, bread, and, of course, pizza. She regularly sewed various religious articles for the Catholic nuns of St. Joseph’s Church in West Aliquippa. Some of her handiwork even adorned the various statues within the church. As a member of St. Joseph’s Confraternity of Christian Mothers, Nina enjoyed the activities and the many friends she made there. She was a devoted member of St. Joseph’s until the family moved to Center Township, where she then became a member of St. Frances Cabrini Church until 1998.

She then moved to North Carolina and, ultimately, Massachusetts, where she relished her role as Nonna to 3 loving grandchildren, her son, and daughter-in-law. She also gained the love of several nannies (especially Megan and Hilary) during that time, who quickly learned her traditional and caring approach to running a busy household. Nonna was always happy to share her cooking techniques (hint: no measuring) with all her family and friends, who still make her famous meatballs and sauce regularly. She continued to love cooking, gardening, and being included in the hectic family activities as the ever-loving Italian grandmother.

Surviving Nina are sons, Nicola Francalancia, M.D. (Janice Lalikos, M.D.), Northborough, MA, and Anthony Francalancia (Jeannie Francalancia), Ellettsville, IN; grandchildren, Austin Francalancia (Kellie Moss), Bloomington, IN, Stephanie Francalancia, Providence, RI, Nicholas Francalancia, Seattle, WA, and Anthony Francalancia, Santa Monica, CA; great-grandsons, Carter and Miles Francalancia, Bloomington, IN; sister Antonietta Cofelice, Toro, Italy; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carmen, and sisters Giuseppina Ricella and Marietta Evangelista.

Friends will be received on Monday from 11am until the time of Blessing Service at 1pm in Darrroch Cremation and Funeral Tributes, Inc., 2640 Mill Street, Aliquippa www.darrochfuneralhome.com            

Entombment service will be follow at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum, Hopewell Township, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The family would like to thank the staff of Shrewsbury Crossing Memory Care Unit and Nina’s Hospice nurses for their compassionate care.

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