Obituary of Francisca (Frank) Mattiucci

Francisca (Frank) Mattiucci was born April 26, 1929 in Galyton, Pennsylvania. His parents, Charles and Santina had emigrated to the US just a few years before from Italy (with a little help from the Cosa Nostra, of which Frank's dad was a member at the time). Frank was an athlete playing many sports as a child and teenager. As he approached his latter teens he, like so many youths in his area, started to learn the coal mining business. But, Frank's true calling was the military. So, at 17 years old he enlisted in the US Marine Corps. Besides being an athlete, Frank was a talented trumpet player. He became a member of the Marine Corps band. He also became a champion wrestler while with the Marine Corps. Frank saw his first action in the Korean War. He spent two years fighting for his country there. When he returned from Korea, the Marine Corp stationed him in Washington D.C.  

Frank loved the ladies and was quite a player in his time, until he met Vivian Thompson. Vivian was also a marine. Both worked in the Pentagon. Frank played it a little coy for awhile until he started to realize what a great catch Vivian was. Frank and Vivian were married in 1958. Soon after they were relocated by the military to Hawaii where their first 2 daughters were born (Janice and Pamela). Frank and Vivian stayed in Hawaii for 4 years before returning to the mainland in 1962 and settling into Southern California. Soon after their 3rd daughter, Sherri, was born.  

Frank loved camping and soon bought a camper and boat. The family spent most weekends at Lake Elsinore or Lake Isabella during the summer. Each year the family would take 3 week driving vacations. Frank made sure he stopped at every Historical Monument, every cave, every lake, every national park.... You name it. His daughters saw more in those 3 weeks each year than most would see in a lifetime.
 

Frank had many hobbies. He loved cars and you could bet that you would find him every night in his garage working on whatever old junker he had picked up. He loved bowling and he and Vivian were on teams for many years. He also loved golf and went out and played whenever he could. And, he was a DIYer before it became the rage. He laid cement, built sheds, laid tile, replaced roofs, renovated bathrooms. You name it. He could do it all. He always prided himself on having the nicest yard in the neighborhood and he was even honored for that by the Garden Grove City council. And, in his free time, he was an avid sports fan. He loved his Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pirates. And, with his move to Southern California, he also learned to love the Angels and Rams.
 

After 22 years, Frank retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant. While he worked in various jobs after that, he always considered himself a Marine, first and foremost. He lived his Marine Corps mantra everyday, Semper FI, "Always Faithful."
 

As his girls started to age and were no longer interested in hanging with the parents all the time, Frank joined the Moose lodge and became an active member helping those in need and having a lot of fun while doing so. He rose to the rank of Fellow in the lodge. He and Vivian also began to spend many weekends at the El Cortez in Las Vegas having fun at the slots (keno was his game). They eventually retired to Bullhead City where they were close to their beloved casinos.
 

Frank's various diseases and illnesses took a toll on him, but he fought hard not to give up. He suffered through lung cancer, bladder cancer and stomach cancer, but his greatest challenge was a massive stroke that hit him in 2001. He was a fighter though and worked hard to push himself through all of his medical challenges. He relocated back to Southern California to be close to his girls. During his last couple of years, his body continued to give out. He suffered through 2 leg amputations and additional strokes. His body finally said enough and he passed away on October 27, 2017 with his family present.  
 

Frank is survived by his wife Vivian, daughters Jan, Pam and Sherri, grandson Jason, and brothers John, Emilio and Jim.  

Services for Frank Mattiucci will be held Friday, November 10, 2017 at 5:30pm at Rose Family Funeral Home, 4444 Cochran St, Simi Valley, CA (viewing from 4:00pm-5:30pm).