Francesca Mariani

Francesca (Bassani) Mariani,100, passed away peacefully at home on August 10, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Ripi, Italy on March 18,1925 to Carolina Sementilli and Eugenio Bassani, she was the eldest of seven children. Francesca married Giovanni Mariani on October 28,1946, in their hometown of Ripi, Italy. They had two children, Maria Teresa and Angela. In June of 1958, she immigrated to the United States with her children and started her life pursuing the American Dream. After a long journey, she and her husband (who had previously immigrated to the U.S.A.) built a life for their family in Bronx, NY. Francesca initially worked in a blouse factory and then transitioned into a career as a Nurse’s Aide in a nearby nursing home. In 1990 she lost her beloved husband of 44 years and a decade later, she relocated to Cold Spring, NY to be closer to her family.

Francesca leaves behind a legacy of many familial traditions particularly centered around cooking. She was a fantastic cook, and it brought her great joy to feed her loved ones, and she always made sure there was plenty of food on hand. Daily visits by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren always brought a smile to her face and she was a treasured presence in all their lives. She was famously nicknamed “Nonna Cesca,” by her great-grandchildren and that name graciously become what she was known as to many family members and friends.

Francesca leaves behind her two daughters, Maria Teresa Scanga and Angela Cefaloni (Rocco), five grandchildren John Paul Scanga (Dawn), Mark Scanga (Melissa), Laura Hammond (Josh), Lisa Erhartic (Andy) and Adam Cefaloni (Sarah) and thirteen great-grandchildren, Marco, Valerie, Vincenzo, Marisa, Sophia, Olivia, Mark, Luke, Stefano, Mia, Rocco, Joseph and Ryan. She is also survived by her brother Paolo Bassani.

Francesca was predeceased by her husband, Giovanni, her son- in- law, Ugo Scanga, and her siblings, Angela Maria, Fernando, Italo, Vincenzo and Lina.

Friends may call on Tuesday August 12, 2025 from 4-8pm at Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott Street, Cold Spring. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday August 13, 2025 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Loretto, 24 Fair Street, Cold Spring. Entombment will follow in Ferncliff Cemetery alongside her husband.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating in Francesca’s name to Our Lady of Loretto Church, 24 Fair St., Cold Spring, NY or to a favorite charity.