Frances (Alba) Rochefort

Frances Alba Rochefort, 86, of Cranston, passed away peacefully with her family by her side January 15, 2024. Born in Providence, she was the loving daughter of the late Gaetano (Guy) J. Alba and Esther M. (Montanaro) Alba.

Frances was brilliant. Not only did she graduate Summa Cum Laude from Wheaton College in Norton, MA, and from Radcliffe College in Cambridge, but she was also a member of the esteemed National Academic Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. As a French Major, who also studied other romance languages, in her junior year, she embraced the opportunity to study abroad at the Sorbonne Université in Paris, France.

She went on to teach foreign languages at both the secondary and junior college levels and completed her full-time career as the Chair of the Foreign Language Department at Cranston High School East, a position which she held for 13 years, until her retirement in 1990. After retiring, she continued teaching on a part-time basis in several Rhode Island communities. She was passionate about language and loved each and every one of her students. In addition to the RI Foreign Language Association, Frances belonged to several other foreign language organizations.

Frances leaves a beautiful legacy of incredibly strong faith, kindness, patience, and humility, and she had an uncanny ability not to take herself too seriously.

Frances is survived by her loving daughters, Lynn Rochefort, Cheriann Ferri and her husband Gabriel, and Robin Cunetta and her partner Patrick Harrington. She also leaves her adoring grandchildren, Gabriel Ferri, Jr. and his wife, Denise, Marissa Cunetta and her fiancé Matthew MacKinnon, Cara Ferri and her fiancé Jeremy King, and Joseph Cunetta, as well as her two beautiful great-grandchildren, Gianni Ferri and Indi King. She was the sister of Guy Alba (Ramona) and Maria Alba-Fisch (Elisha).

Her funeral will be held on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, 237 Garden Hills Drive, Cranston. Burial will follow at St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HopeHealth Hospice, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.