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August 13
Orienta Valentina Franchi Calise

August 4, 2008

Orienta Valentina Franchi Calise, 90, of Clarks Summit, died Monday, August 4 in the Allied Skilled Nursing Facility. She was the widow of William Calise, who died May 1, 1983. The couple had been married more than 42 years.

Born Aug. 7, 1917, in Bronx, NY, she was the daughter of the late Frank Albert and Rose De Falco Franchi. Orienta was a resident of Clarks Summit since 1985, having moved from Staten Island, NY. She was educated in Bronx schools, where she also graduated high school. She was a member of Our Lady of the Snows Church, Clarks Summit, and was a former member of St. Rita’s Church, Staten Island, NY. An active volunteer, she was a member of the Staten Island Museum of the Arts and Sciences, having served as a past president of its auxiliary. She had a great interest in the outdoors, especially the preservation of the wetlands on Staten Island. She volunteered at the Staten Island Wild Life Refuge, providing tours to school children and offering information for the preservation of wildlife. She had volunteered at St. Rita’s School, Staten Island, as a remedial reading teacher and also volunteered in many activities in St. Rita’s Church. An avid handcrafter, she enjoyed crocheting sweaters for her family and embroidering table cloths.

Surviving are two daughters, Rose La Luna and husband, Frank, Tunkhannock; and Anna Pasquale and husband, Carmelo, Staten Island; three sons, Henry Perez and wife, Evelyn, Staten Island; Joseph Calise and wife, Donna, Milford; and Frank Calise and wife, Carmel Ann, Inverness, FL; a brother, Nunzio Franchi, Yonkers, NY; a sister, Helen Stanczak, New Rochelle, NY; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Lucretia Ciaffa; and a brother, Ernest Franchi.

The funeral was to be held Thursday, August 7, with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit. Interment St. Peter’s Cemetery, Staten Island. The family will receive relatives and friends today, 5 to 8 p.m., at the Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit, 18411. Interment with committal services will be at a time to be announced from the Matthew Funeral Home and Cremation Service Inc., 2508 Victory Blvd., Staten Island. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Snows Church Building Fund, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit, 18411. For more information, directions or to send an online condolence, visit www.jennings calvey.com.