Frances “Fran” A. (Ciminelli) Chierico

Alexandria Bay/Rochester: September 7, 2025. Frances is predeceased by her husband, Joseph Chierico; sons, Anthony Chierico & David Chierico. She is survived by her daughter, Lucie (Timothy Knight) Chierico; grandchildren, Timothy “TJ” (Stephen) Lacombe, Frances Knight; brother, Nicholas (Katie Hussar) Ciminelli; several nieces, nephews, cousins, & dear friends.

Frances’s life story will be shared during her visitation, Friday, September 19th, 5-8 PM. Her funeral service will be celebrated, Saturday, September 20th, 10 AM at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane, (between 390 & Long Pond Rd.). Immediately following she will be laid to rest in White Haven Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to River Hospital, 4 Fuller St., Alexandria Bay, NY 13607.

Remembering Frances~

Frances A. Ciminelli was born on January 31, 1939, in Rochester, New York, during the same year Germany invaded Poland, sparking the beginning of World War II. Her early childhood was marked by the turbulence of the war years. When her mother became a riveter on airplanes in San Diego, Frances moved with her rather than being left behind with her grandparents. For about five years, she lived in California before returning to Rochester. Meanwhile, her father, Nicholas C. Ciminelli, was serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Ranger. Frances would later learn how narrowly her father survived the war-after a dental infection caused him to take leave, the Ranger was bombed and destroyed, leaving few survivors.

Frances grew up with her younger brother, Nicholas (born in 1946), whom she always teased by calling him her “older brother.” She attended St. Anthony’s of Padua, Franklin High School, and Charlotte High School before graduating from St. Joseph’s Commercial High School, where she also served as a class advisor, vice principal, ran the Honor Society, and contributed to the yearbook. Driven by a love of learning, she went on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Nazareth College. Excelling in English, writing, and the arts, Frances became known for her love of reading, music, and teaching.

Gifted with a beautiful voice and musical talent, Frances enjoyed singing, playing piano, and even teaching opera. She was also a pioneer in her own right-the first female architectural design draftsperson in Rochester. Her career path was varied and impressive: she began working at age 12 in a bakery, later at Security Trust Bank as a teenager, then held roles as an insurance agent, real estate broker, teacher, substitute teacher, and voice and piano instructor. She worked with the Monroe Development Center and eventually became an architectural draftsperson at Edison High School before retiring.

In 1956, Frances married Joseph G. Chierico at the Robert Wesleyan Methodist Church in Rochester. Together, they built a warm and loving family, raising three children: Anthony (born May 11, 1958), David (born April 11, 1961), and Lucie (born December 29, 1962). Summers were spent camping at Wellesley Island State Park until they built their dream home on Seaway Avenue, overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Their home became a gathering place for countless friends and family, filled with music, laughter, and love.

Frances’ passions extended far beyond her professional and family life. She loved classical music, opera (her favorite being La Bohème), and theater (Phantom of the Opera held a special place in her heart). She delighted in simple joys-lobster dinners, champagne, lighthouses, carousels, music boxes, and cheering for the Yankees. She adored babies, calling them “a precious gift,” and carried that tenderness into all her relationships.

She and Joseph also shared their home with many beloved pets, including Queenie the shepherd, Buster the boxer, Beauty the white Persian cat, and others. One remarkable family story was when their pet Blackie pushed three-year-old Lucie out of harm’s way, saving her life from an oncoming car, when she was trying to run to the mailbox to greet her father.

Though her life was filled with joy, Frances endured heartbreaking losses: first her son Anthony, then David, and later her husband Joseph. These challenges were profound, but she carried herself with strength, grace, and faith.

Frances was deeply spiritual, participating in Rochester Bible Study groups, playing piano for services, and associating with both the Dawn and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Her life’s legacy was one of kindness and selflessness. She believed, “Kindness is a very large word despite how small it looks on paper,” and she lived by those words daily. Always putting others before herself, she found her greatest happiness in pleasing and caring for others-especially her husband and love of her life, Joe, her family, and her grandchildren.

She will always be remembered as open-minded, progressive, angelic, and endlessly loving. Her family and friends describe her as precious, kind, and completely selfless, leaving behind a legacy of warmth and compassion that continues to inspire everyone who knew her.