Francelina Fragoso

Francelina Marques Fragoso
Loving mother, grandmother and friend to all who knew her

Naugatuck, CT Francelina Marques Fragoso peacefully passed on January 14, 2021. Born in Pardilho, Portugal on December 29, 1927 to Ludovina Marques and Manuel Dias Ministro. She was the youngest of five siblings; Arminda Viera, Maria Marques Ministro, Rosa Marques Nunes and Diamantino Ministro, and the last surviving member of her childhood family. Francelina married Joaquim Maria da Silva Fragoso on April 26, 1945 in Pardilho, Portugal and had four children, Manuel M. Fragoso, Anthony Fragoso, Ludovina Fragoso and Christian Fragoso.

Francelina lost her mother, Ludovina, at the age of six. The void left by her mother’s passing was filled by her loving relationships with her father, Manuel and a strong bond with her grandmother Juliana Marques. This bond with her maternal grandmother, forged by the loss of her mother, cultivated Francelina’s compassion for others sufferings and the resolve needed to traverse three continents in order to provide the best life for her family.

While Francelina didn’t have the opportunity of a higher education she was a voracious reader. She always stayed abreast of current events by reading newspapers in both Portuguese and English. No matter where in the world a family member was, Francelina always had a clear picture of their circumstances in order to pray for their safety and well-being. Francelina also deeply concerned herself with the welfare of others. She always had an ear for a friend and a shoulder for everyone in her family.

Francelina was a loving and supportive mother to her four children—sharing in their joys and sorrows with equal measure. As her children had children, Francelina became, quite honestly, the best grandmother there ever was. Every ounce of love, care and attention was given to her six grandchildren, Hailey Fragoso, Christian Alexander Fragoso, Stephanie Jacoboski and her husband Marcus, Danielle Fragoso, Jason Fragoso and his wife Patricia, and Jennifer Fragoso. Francelina’s devotion to her grandchildren will go unmatched and will be sorely missed.

Francelina is survived by her sons Anthony Fragoso and his wife, Arminda Fragoso, Christian Fragoso and his wife, Angela Fragoso, her six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Juliana Jacoboski, Timothy Jacoboski, Victoria Fragoso and Jason Miguel Fragoso. Francelina is preceded in death by her husband, Joaquim Fragoso, her son Manuel M. Fragoso and her daughter, Ludovina Fragoso.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10:00am at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2071 Baldwin Street, Waterbury. Those attending are asked to please meet directly at church. Facial coverings and social distancing are required. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck. There are no calling hours and arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Mrs. Fragoso’s memory, donations may be made to The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708 or Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2071 Baldwin St, Waterbury, CT 06706.