Shrewsbury – Heaven on earth for Fran Walinski was to be on one of his favorite beaches on Cape Cod with his feet in the sand…the sun in his face…a cold beer in his hand…and smell of the ocean. On the beach Fran breathed in the freshness of the sea and breathed out the cares of the day.
Fran died in peace and embraced by the love of his family Monday, March 28, 2016 in his home. He was 83.
Born Aug. 13, 1932 in Plains, Pa., he was a son of the late John and Ann (Novak) Walinski. His step-mother was the late Charlotte Yarrish. Raised and educated in Derby, Connecticut he was a stand-out athlete and a member of the All State Basketball team. In 1950, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Derby High School and voted “Best Ever.” He was also a member of the State B Championships. He enlisted and honorably served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War where he served as a submarine tender aboard the U.S.S. Fulton.
Professionally, Fran worked for over 40 years as a pipefitter for Uniroyal Co., now Chemtura Company, before retiring in 1991. Spending most of his life in Connecticut, he moved to Shrewsbury in 2002.
Anything with regard to the water Fran loved: boating, fishing, canoeing, swimming and the beach. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus in Connecticut and the Elks Lodge in Naugatuck, Conn. He enjoyed his membership in the Greendale Retired Men’s Club and the Men’s Club at the Shrewsbury Senior Center and ROMEO Men’s group at Orchard Meadow. He enjoyed a good game of billiards and anything sports related.
In death Fran is joined by his wife of 27 years, Barbara B. (Bradshaw) Walinski; the mother of his children, Lorraine (Paul) Walinski; and his siblings, John, Bernard, Raymond and Edward Walinski, and Emily Broda.
Mourning his loss, but celebrating his life are his children, Greg F. Walinski and his fiancé Lisa Cavanaugh of South Yarmouth, David P. Walinski and his wife Cynthia Espanola of Kingston, and Kelly A. Carey and her husband Gerald Carey of South Dennis; his step-children, Craig A. Proch and his wife Donna of Southington, Conn., Timothy E. Proch and his wife Victoria of Shrewsbury, and Gene M. Proch and his wife Chandra of Centennial, Colo; his longtime companion, Carmel Sandock of Shrewsbury; his grandchildren, Jack, Matthew, Nathan, Derek, Adam, Michael, Kristen, Emmaliana, Melissa, Harrison and Samantha; and many nieces and nephews.
The family wanted to be sure to thank Dr. Joseph Daigneault and his staff, Dr. William Shine, the staff of Jewish Health & Hospice for their wonderful caregiving and ability to keep him in the comfort of his home, including Dennis Paquette, Emily Pattee, and Michelle Ladroga.
Family and friends will honor and remember Francis’s life by gathering for calling hours Thursday, March 31, from 5-8 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center. His funeral service will be celebrated Friday, April 1, at 9:30 a.m., in the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be at 2:30 p.m. in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be made to JHC Hospice, 629 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609 or Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation, ICU Fund, 14 Prospect St., Milford, MA 01757.
