Obituary: Frances H. Ellesio, 78, Of Guilford

GUILFORD, CT — (From Wallingford Funeral Home): Frances H. Ellesio, 78, of Guilford, CT, wife of the late Michael A. Ellesio, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Monday, August 14, 2023.

Fran was born in Hamden, CT on April 29, 1945, one of five children of Raymond and F. Bernice (Ryalls) Harrison. She graduated from Hamden High School and attended Quinnipiac College, where she met her husband, Mike. Fran and Mike were married for more than 50 years, raising their family in North Haven and Hamden. After several decades in Hamden, the couple down-sized to their lake-front dream house in Guilford, where Fran lived until her passing.

In addition to her warm smile, intelligence, and wit, Fran will be remembered for her strong will and determination. These latter-mentioned traits are best represented by her 20-year pursuit of running. She began running in her mid-30s, having never run a full mile but unwavering in her commitment to succeed. After her first race, a 5-miler where she finished as the second woman, she was hooked. She logged thousands of miles, completed countless races, took home dozens of trophies, and loved every step.

Fran spent most of her career working in social services in long-term care facilities, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in social work from Southern Connecticut State University. Although she retired from health care many years ago, she sustained close, meaningful, and life-long relationships with many of her coworkers throughout the years.

In her retirement, and especially since the death of her husband, Fran often filled her time with the pleasures of learning something new. She was an avid reader, took online classes, attended lectures, cooked, meditated, spent time outdoors, exercised, and visited with friends and family. In a collection of her life stories, which she authored between early 2021 and early 2022, Fran wrote, “I would like to be remembered as grateful for a lifetime of opportunities to learn, to listen, to laugh, and, most of all, to have so many spectacular people to love.”

Fran is survived by her son Michael J. Ellesio and his wife Danielle of Guilford, CT; daughter Kristen Lundbye and her husband Justin of Fairfield, CT; grandchildren Zachary, Lucas, Paige and great-grandson Forest Ellesio of Guilford, CT; grandchildren Elana and Jude Lundbye of Fairfield, CT; sister Suzan D’Aniello and her husband Guy of Hamden, CT; sister Beth Harrison and her partner Wes Beeman of Branford, CT; and several nieces and nephews and their families. In addition to her husband, Fran is predeceased by brothers Raymond Harrison of Texas and George Harrison of Iowa.

At Fran’s request, no funeral or memorial service are planned. The family would like to thank Wallingford Funeral Home and Quinnipiac University for their coordination in honoring her wishes in this regard. Details regarding a celebration of life service will be shared at a later date. Donations in Fran’s memory can be made to Compassion & Choices, an organization that works to expand options for end-of-life care.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.