Obituary of Frances Marie Harrington

Frances Marie (Luciano) “Fran” Harrington September 2, 1942 — January 14, 2021

Fran Harrington was born September 2, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York. She was the second of four children born to John Luciano (February 18, 1909 — May 7, 1999) and Rosemary (Marro) Luciano (May 24, 1916 — February 14, 1979). Fran worked to help run her family’s Italian restaurant on Long Island, and it was there that she met her husband, Bill Harrington (November 11, 1937 — January 27, 2015). She and Bill, along with her siblings and parents, moved from New York to Oregon in 1966. After settling in Estacada, Fran quickly became involved with the local Catholic church, St Aloysius, taking active roles in the Marian Guild and in the choir, in addition to serving as Director of Religious Education and as the parish’s first female lecturer. She also served her community as a school bus driver, as a special education teaching assistant, and as a foster parent.

A childhood bout with asthma resulted in Fran’s receiving a doctor’s prescription for learning the accordion, which she enjoyed playing well into her adult life, performing for church and school functions, as well as at regular gigs at the local senior centers. She had a powerful and beautiful singing voice which she shared with her family and community as much as possible, singing anywhere and everywhere—from behind the wheel of a school bus, to the stage while performing with local choral ensembles. Fran was known for her outgoing, gregarious nature, striking up easy conversations with anyone she met. She was also generous and nurturing to the degree that door-to-door salesmen visiting her home were likely to be fed before earning a sale. Fran surprised her doctors and inspired her family when she survived a catastrophic brain aneurysm at age forty-nine. During her recovery, her faith in God, her devotion to her family, and her love of music helped her to regain basic skills, and crystalized within her a joyful presence and an unwavering spiritual zeal for which she was celebrated by her many caregivers.

Fran was an attentive mother to four children: Nancy, Maria, Karen, and Billy. She was also nana to four grandchildren: Gianni, Arletta, Louisa, and Vivienne. Fran died peacefully in the presence of her family at her home in Milwaukie, OR on January 14, 2021 after contracting COVID-19. Fran is survived by her children, her grandchildren, her sister Lorie Oldham (Luciano), and her brother, Peter Luciano, as well as several cousins, and many nieces and nephews. In order to comply with COVID-19 regulations a small is being planned currently with a larger gathering to come when allowed. Please contact Nancy Harrington by email at NEHarrington@icloud.com for information on upcoming gatherings. Please send donations in Fran’s honor to St Aloysius Church, 192 NW Third Ave, Estacada, OR 97023.