Frances 'Fran' Peragallo

Frances “Fran” Canepari Peragallo, 97, the wife of the late Leon J. Peragallo, passed peacefully and gently into the presence of Jesus in the company of her family, Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at the Jaffrey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Jaffrey, New Hampshire.

Fran was born and raised on a small farm on Foote Road in Glastonbury, CT in 1926. The daughter of northern Italian immigrants, she understood the values of hard work and resourcefulness, which served as the foundation for her long and happy life. After graduating from Glastonbury High School, with a recommendation of her high school math teacher, she was specially selected to work as an engineering assistant in the "Wind Tunnel" at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in Hartford, CT testing engines for the war effort. In 1949, Fran married Leon Peragallo, a returning airman in Europe, a gunner in a B-17 that was powered by Pratt & Whitney engines.

Fran and Leon raised their 3 children and spent 60 years of marriage on Spring St. Extension in Glastonbury. Once her children were older, she took a full-time job at Naubuc Elementary School as a Teachers Aide. Fran was dedicated to the school children. It gave her great joy to be part of the team and make a difference in children’s lives. She would work late many nights preparing craft projects for the school children.

Fran, our “Mom”, “Grammie”, and “Big Grammie”, was a beautiful woman, but her inner beauty is what we will most remember including her sense of humor, creativity, organization, resourcefulness, dependability, and hospitality. She was a great homemaker, talented seamstress, and excellent baker (she loved desserts). We’ll remember her homemade ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, salads, and apple pies. At family get togethers, Fran enjoyed joking around, was the life of the party, and always made sure everyone was lovingly received and well taken care of. She would often prepare the same meal multiple ways to account for everyone’s preferences. Fran loved attending church, taking notes in her Bible, and singing in the choir. Her grandchildren loved her entertaining tag sale finds and her birthday cards because they always included pieces of sugar-free gum.

In 2015, Fran moved to the home of her son Tom in Rindge, NH and joined Monadnock Bible Baptist Church where she was an active member. In September 2023, she became a resident in Spring Village at Summerhill Assisted Living in Peterborough, NH.

Fran leaves behind sons Jim Peragallo and his wife Joy from Prospect, CT, Tom Peragallo and his wife Donna of Rindge NH; daughter Joan Peragallo Martin of Sarasota FL; sister Pina Shenstone of Glastonbury, CT; 7 grandchildren: Rachel Urrutia of Apex, NC; Bethany Paquin of Dublin, NH; David Peragallo of Jaffrey, NH; Daniel Peragallo of Cheshire, CT; Nate Peragallo of New Haven, CT; Kayla Martin of Seattle, Washington; and Kallie Martin Nobles of Atlantic Beach, FL; and 19 great grandchildren who brought tremendous joy to her life. She also leaves behind devoted caregivers and friends Sheila Ellis, Bernadette DeWees, Lynn Howard, Nancy Booth, and Jacob and Pat Billger.

Visiting hours will be held at 6:00 PM and memorial services at 6:30 PM, on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the Monadnock Bible Baptist Church, 210 South Woodbound Road, Rindge, NH, 03461.

An outdoor graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at the St. Augustine Cemetery on Hopewell Road in South Glastonbury, CT 06073.  The service will be followed by a reception.