Francesco "Frank" Salamone

Francesco “Frank” Salamone, 94, of Cherry Valley, passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center surrounded by family.

Frank was born on February 4th, 1929 in Aragona, Sicily, the son of Benny and Antonia (Crimi) Salamone. From a young age, after the death of his mother and as the oldest child, he assumed the role of protector of his family, a virtue he practiced until his last day with us. He led a life of sacrifice, serving his country in the Italian Army and working countless hours and jobs never to gain more for himself but rather to make a better life for those he loved. While working in the coal mines in England, he began corresponding with Anna Russo Introito. After months of sharing their love through letters, Frank pursued an engagement with Anna. The two were wed in Sicily on August 11th, 1956. When Anna returned to England with Frank following the wedding, he asked her why she accepted his proposal. He knew she had refused several other men because of her plan to enter the convent and become a nun out of her love for the Lord. Anna revealed that she agreed to marry him because an angel came to her in a dream and told her to say yes. Their love story was one of Frank’s most prized to recount.

Ten years and two sons later, Frank and Anna emigrated to the United States, and not long after welcomed a daughter who completed their family. His hard working hands and zest for life propelled him into entrepreneurship, opening his first business, a grocery store, in 1969 with his brother. On October 10th, 1986, twenty years to the day of their ship docking in New York, he opened Franchesco’s Ristorante with his sons. Frank has been in the restaurant business ever since, whether in his apron in the kitchen or dressed to the nines greeting friends, family, and guests in the dining room. He held tightly to that restaurant, many of us believing that working there almost every day is what helped him survive without his beloved Anna for the nearly 26 years since her passing on January 6, 1998. He would say about her, “there was never born another woman like her”, and now we have the privilege to say, “there was never born another man like him”.

We believe Frank would say his proudest and greatest accomplishment is his family, as he would repeat “la famiglia e tutto”. He is survived by his children, Benny (Kim) Salamone of Loves Park, Calogero “Charlie” (Wendy) Salamone of Belvidere and Antoinette “Toni” (Michael) Kreitlow of Daphne, AL; his grandchildren, Stephanie (Jeremy) Myers, Michelle LaMay (Giuseppe), Andrea (Matt) Rondone, Brittany (Nick) Goellner, Alexandra “Allie” (Greg) Klazura, Frank (Ella), Luke, and Caroline Salamone, Jacob, Anna and Mikayla Kreitlow; his great grandchildren, Milania and Arianna Myers, Ben, Carter and Dominic LaMay, Landon and Luca Rondone, Elle, Will, James and Baby Goellner, Leo and Calogero “Cal” Klazura; his siblings, Joe (Frances) Salamone, Josephine “Pina” LaRosa, Carl (Rose) Salamone, Tony (Maria) Salamone and Christina Cimino; sisters-in-law, Filippa Salamone, Nina Salamone and Carmela Salamone; many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his wife, Anna; his parents; his brothers Mike, Thomas, Rosario and Phillip Salamone; his sister-in-law Assunta Salamone; his brothers-in-law, Antonino LaRosa and Frank Cimino; his brother-in-law Gerlando Russo Introito; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Giuseppe and Concetta Vaccarello.

What we have heard from so many since his passing is how he had an unmatched capacity for love. Frank had a way of making everyone feel special and adored, and we’d like to thank each of you who made him feel the same.

The funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, January 8, 2024, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church at 1010 Ferguson St., Rockford, where Frank was a member. Burial will be held in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:30 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. and again from 9:30 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. on Monday at the church. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.