Francesca Maria Merlino, age 79, passed away Monday morning at South Jersey Healthcare in Vineland. Born in Oleveno Pavia, Italy, she came to the United States in 1968 and resided in Philadelphia. In 1969 she moved to Millville and has been a resident since. She had worked for Wheaton Glass in the packing department. Francesca was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and she will be greatly missed by her husband Santo, six children, Rose Stiefel; Roberta Miller; Matilde Teston; Joseph Merlino; Loredana Lyons and Richard Merlino, Sr.; two sisters, Elsa Adami and Graziella Ciprandi, eleven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Francesca's Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at Parish of All Saints at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Millville. She was interred in Holy Cross Cemetery in Millville.