Frances Mahoney Bianchi

August 6, 1935 - August 6, 2013

SCHENECTADY – Frances Mahoney Bianchi, 78, passed away peacefully at her daughter's home on Tuesday, after a long illness. Known as Frannie and Francie, she was born in Hornell, NY on September 17, 1934 a daughter of the late Emmett and Bertha Potts Mahoney. She worked at the American Locomotive Company from 1952 to 1970. After many years of being blessed with one daughter, Fran and Rich were blessed to increase their family with three sons. After taking time off when her three boys were young, Fran started a new career in 1976 at the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance where her intelligence, wit and humor were embraced and appreciated by many new friends she made. When she became ill and could no longer work, her friends and family gave her a beautiful and fun-filled retirement party. Fran set an example for her family of how to be strong when times are hard, to cherish the time spent with family and friends and to hold dear the memories that become the book of your life. Fran was blessed to have a large family and circle of friends who loved her and whom she loved and cared for. She loved all things Irish, including her national holiday, St. Patrick's Day, which she celebrated every year with much fun, joy and laughter and always maintaining that her family had a Mahoney Castle in Ireland. She also embraced her husband Richard's Italian heritage. Fran was a loving daughter-in-law to Anna Bianchi who owned the former Mama Bianchi's Italian Restaurant in Schenectady and made her Italian family members proud of her cooking talents. Fran's family loved her fried chicken and potato salad, but her sauce, meatballs and lasagna were second to none. She will be remembered for her loving and caring nature. She was a communicant of St. Luke's Church. She is now smiling with her loving husband, family and friends that went to God before her. In addition to her parents, Fran was predeceased by her beloved husband Richard Bianchi on November 5, 1989 and her siblings, Leo, Emmett, Joseph, John, William, Daniel Mahoney, Katherine Markle, Ruth Mossey, Patricia Ostrowski and Theresa Butch. She is survived by her devoted children, Susan Bianchi Kent, of North Colonie; Richard Bianchi of Corinth; Ronald Bianchi and Michael Bianchi both of Schenectady; loving grandchildren, Ryan and Lauren, Erica and Richard Kent and Ronnie Lee Bianchi; beautiful, great-grandchildren Alayna Sturdivant and Lilly Kent; dear sisters-in-law Mary Mahoney, Ceil Bianchi, both of Schenectady and Sheila Mahoney of Arizona; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Services will be held Friday at 8 am from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, Union at N. Jay Streets, Schenectady and then to St. Luke's Church, State Street where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9am. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home on this evening from 5 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made in Fran's memory to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211.