Philomena “Mamie” H. (Ficco) Rappa, 102, of Franklin, died, Friday, September 25, 2009 at the Maples Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Wrentham. She was the beloved wife of Joseph Rappa who died in 1964.
Born in Franklin on May 20, 1907, she was a daughter of the late Camillo and Giovina (Gentile) Ficco. Mrs. Rappa was a lifelong resident of Franklin and attended Franklin Public Schools.
A homemaker for most of her life, she had also worked in the cafeteria at the Kennedy School in Franklin for many years and volunteered in the Franklin Public Schools reading program.
Mrs. Rappa was a lifetime member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Women’s Club and a charter member of the Sons of Italy. She was an avid bowler, loved to play cards and enjoyed crocheting.
Mrs. Rappa also loved to cook, especially her favorite Italian dishes.
She is survived by two sons, Robert J. Rappa and his wife, Nancy and Joseph F. Rappa and his wife, Diane, all of Franklin and two daughters, Joanne M. Sims and her husband, George of Franklin and Rosemary J. Guilbault of Holbrook.
She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her sister, Mary Ficco, her brothers, Angelo, Henry, Dominic, Albert, Marshall and Anthony Ficco, her son-in-law, Harvey Guilbault and her granddaughter, Leslie J. Rappa.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral on Wednesday, September 30 at 9:15 a.m. from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin, 131 Main St., followed by a funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church, Church Square, Franklin at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at the parish cemetery.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 4 - 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Friends of Franklin, 50 Corbin St., Franklin, MA 02038 or the St. Vincent DePaul Society c/o St. Mary’s Church, 1 Church Square, Franklin, MA 02038.