Anthony "Tony" Franchetti, Jr.

Anthony (Tony) Franchetti, Jr. was called home on March 21, 2023.

Tony was born in Providence, RI on February 5, 1932 to Antonio and Lucia (Leo) Franchetti. His first ever job was cleaning bottles for .05 cents an hour, and whenever his grandchildren lamented their salaries, he was quick to remind them that they too could be cleaning bottles for .05 cents an hour! Tony was a proud graduate of LaSalle Academy, class of 1949.

Tony served in the Army’s 351st Infantry Regiment, Heavy Mortar Company. He was stationed in Trieste, Italy and was involved in managing the various riots that took place between the people of Trieste and the Yugoslavians. Tony took advantage of his time in Italy and traveled Europe on his off-duty days. He’d always grin when mentioning seeing the world “on Uncle Sam’s dime.”

Tony met Mercedes (Marcia) Alviti and they danced the night away. They were married in 1956 and had three boys: Steven, Dennis and Anthony. Tony worked at the Post Office for over 40 years – the benefits made the early mornings absolutely worth it! Upon his retirement, he became a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Tony and Marcia loved to travel. From Canada to Atlantic City; from Florida to Italy; from the lights in Vegas out to the Grand Canyon – if the weather was warm, the shows were entertaining and the food came in decent sized portions, Tony was in! As competitive as they come, he spent a number of years in a bowling league as well as a bocce league. If you played bocce with Tony, even at one of the many Labor Day cookouts, you knew when the tape measurer came out – he meant business.

An avid Roman Catholic, family man and tea drinker – Tony was the guy who’d give you the shirt off of his back. Generous, proud and full of wisdom, that he would impart on you with six simple words: “you know what your problem is…” While his boys always said that he was a strict parent, his three grandchildren would never believe it. They had him wrapped around their little fingers, and he found absolute joy in making them laugh. Even going so far as to belt out in his personal rendition of “La Donne e Mobile” whenever possible. Present at all graduations, birthdays, the adoption of his grandson and even the crowning of his granddaughter becoming homecoming queen. The pride he felt in his family was evident.

Greeting Tony at Heaven’s gates will be his parents, Antonio and Lucia (Leo) Franchetti; his siblings Jessie Guglielmo, Josephine Reis, and Michael Franchetti and no doubt his many friends and extended family. Tony is survived by his wife Marcia, sister Fay Marcello, his three sons Steven (and Geri), Dennis (and Concetta), and Anthony (and Lisa), his grandchildren Giulianna, Alexa and Daniel and countless nieces and nephews.

Dance away, sweet Tony. We’ll carry your life lessons forever.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 29th at 10 a.m. from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Bartholomew’s Church, 305 Laurel Hill Ave., Providence at 11 a.m.  Burial with military honors will be at St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.  VISITING HOURS are WEDNESDAY MORNING from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.