Francesco 'Frank' Carrara

Francesco Carrara, 85, resident of Peterborough, NH died on Sunday April 3, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. Frank, as he was known to everyone, was a bright spark in our lives and he was a gift to this Earth. He was a wonderful conversationalist, quick to laugh, and always with a story to share. Frank loved good food and making wine. He was the most generous husband, father, grandfather and friend. Frank was born on June 19, 1930 in Boston, MA to Italian immigrants Luigi Carrara and Valentina (Bonaldi) Carrara. One of his favorite treats as a child was Sunday afternoon ice cream at the Franklin Park Zoo with his older sister, Maddalena. Frank’s family moved back to Bergamo, Italy in 1938. His family endured WW II by running a small grocery where Frank often snuck food to his friends at the back door. When the allied forces finally liberated Bergamo, Frank rode atop a tank into the city and helped the GIs with logistics. Being a US citizen who spoke fluent English and Italian, he helped the men find supplies and even traded with them in the weeks following. Frank’s father Luigi had been imprisoned for a year by the fascist regime and so Frank was very proud to help the GIs bring peace back to the city he loved. He was also an avid soccer player in the Bergamo region. Frank missed the US and returned to America in 1950. In a chance meeting he met his future wife’s father, Giovanni Zanga, on the boat trip across the Atlantic. When Frank landed in Bennington, NH, he met Josephine, and in 1960 they married at Saint Patrick’s Church in Bennington. He is a life-long member of the Catholic Church and was an usher for decades. Frank and Josephine lived in Bennington for 43 years, raising their two children, Tina and Dario. He worked at NHBB for 37 years as a machinist and supervisor. Frank was a member of the Bennington Fire Department and helped to build the existing fire station. Frank and Josephine moved to Peterborough in 2004, where Frank spent his retired years working on scroll saw projects and as a devoted volunteer at Monadnock Community Hospital. Frank made friends wherever he went and was always happy to share a story or lend a hand when needed. His family includes his wife of 55 years, Josephine Carrara, his daughter Tina Foster and husband Matt of Peterborough, his son Dario and wife Kim of Peterborough, his granddaughter Christina Foster-McLaughlin and husband Andrew, grandsons Matthew Foster and Bennington Carrara, as well as his bonus grandchildren Hannah and Caden Peck. His sister, Maddalena Algarotti, niece Franca (Algarotti) DeLeidi, and nephew Ennio Algarotti live in Bergamo, Italy. Frank took enormous pride in his family, hosting many family gatherings and making his famous polenta and serving his homemade wine. Frank will be dearly missed by his friends, family, and community, and for those of us that knew and loved him, our hearts will be full of the incredible memories we have of this wonderful and kind man. Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM in the Cournoyer Funeral Home, 33 River Street, (Rte. 202) Jaffrey, NH 03452. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Gerald R. Belanger on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 11:00 AM in the Divine Mercy Church, 12 Church Street, Peterborough, NH 03458. Burial will be in the spring in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Bennington. Donations can be made in his name to the Divine Mercy Building Fund, 12 Church Street, Peterborough, NH 03458. http://thetributecenter.com/tributeplayer/default.aspx?webcasteventid=19426#/webcast