Ontario Joseph Francolini passed away at the Tender Care Nursing Home on Wednesday, August 17th, 2005 at the age of 84. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie to Luigi and Annunziatta Francolini and lived here most of his life. As a high school student he received the highest academic honors. He served as a navigator/ bombardier in the RCAF during World War II from 1940 to 1945. After the war, he married Norma Brunetta and worked with his brother Steve Francolini in sales and management at James St. and Queen St. Furniture. In 1957 he, Norma and their two children, Nancy and Paul moved to California where he worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and Hewlett Packard. He remained in California after Norma's death in 1965 until 1969 when he returned to Sault Ste. Marie and resumed his work in furniture sales until he retired, Mr. Francolini is remembered as a witty story teller who was curious and knowledgeable about many subjects. In particular, he enjoyed traveling, meeting new people and listening to jazz. He is survived by Nancy Sharian of Athens, Georgia and her three children, Alexis Daugherty, Graham Lee and Nathaniel Lee and Paul Francolini of Beaumont, California and his four daughters, Megan Francolini, Brooke Evans and Lydia and Anna Francolini. (Arrangements entrusted to O'Sullivan Donnelly Funeral Home, 759-8456)
