Frances E. Cascio

Eufrasia Frances Fritz “ Fro” Frosina Gragnani Cascio, 93, passed  peacefully Sunday,  5 Dec 2021. Frosina, as she was known to her family, was born 29 May 1928 in Brooklyn NY to her Italian immigrant parents Rosalia Butera Gragnani (Grah- nya- nee) and  Eufemio Gragnani. She was the third child of five and she liked to share memories of her childhood as the daughter of her tailor father and dedicated mother in Brooklyn in the 1930s and 40s.

She is preceded in death by her husband Salvatore  “Joe” Cascio, Her older sister Clotilda (Maddie) Hollins  brother-in law Fred Hollins, brother Agisto “ Frank”  Gragnani and beloved brother-in-law Jack Mulcahy

She leaves behind her Sister Marie Mulcahy,  Brother Adam Gragnani (Loretta) nephews Fred Hollins (Linda)  John (Michelle)  and Christopher (Erin) Mulcahy, Andrew (Sophia)  and Peter (Ferlana) Gragnani and niece and good friend, Laura Davidowitz (Chuck)   Son Joseph Cascio, (Erica) granddaughter Lauren Cascio (Michael), nephews Tracy (Gina), Dean (Sherri), Chris (Cammy) Cascio , and niece Joy Cascio. She is also survived by three great grandchildren, Aello, Balder and Loa and many grand nieces and nephews.

She moved with her husband to South Florida in the 1970’s where they raised their son, Joseph. In 2008 she moved to Winterville to be near her son.

Fritz loved a party. Everyone always said “She is the life of the party.” She was intensely private but enjoyed the company of others. If music played, she danced. She loved to eat, cook for those she loved, and for strangers, too. She loved the holidays, and she especially loved children. She was an avid supporter of St. Jude’s charity and she was a regular at the Winterville, GA library at story time. The children enjoyed the treats she brought for them throughout the year to mark different holidays.

Fritz loved to travel and talked and laughed often  about her  over thirteen cruises with her sisters Marie and Clotilda, Aunt Palma and her niece, Laura, and the friends she made along the way, as well as her antics. She was fortunate to visit Italy ( pronounced It-ly) and especially loved Capri.

She will be missed greatly  by her family, but never forgotten. When she loved you she loved you and she made sure you knew she loved you. She was an authentic woman. She never pretended to be someone she was not. She told people all the time, “what you see is what you get.” We should all take a page from her playbook. Tell people when you love them so that they know for sure, be true to yourself.  Life is shorter than we believe, even when it seems long. Dance to the music, embrace the people you love and have the cake.  The stories of Fritz, her wisdom and her recipes will go on for generations.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com