Francine Fillmore

Francine Lagana Fillmore On October 8, 2015, Francine Fillmore, 67, lost her battle with cancer or as she courageously called it, “the monster". During the 16 months that she fought so fiercely, she was a true warrior and an inspiration to all who came in contact with her. Family and friends, doctors and nurses, neighbors and co-workers; she always gave each one a kind smile and a gracious thank you for the love, care and attention given to her. The last few weeks of her life were spent at home, surrounded by members of this group reminiscing and sharing both public laughs and private tears. Most comforting of all, when she was called home to her final rest, Fran's two greatest loves were at her side, her children Christopher and Danielle. Francine loved to cook and took great pride in her home. She especially enjoyed the "Lagana Pizza Nights" with her mom Jean, sister Maria and brother Carl and his wife Sue. As is typical of many large Italian families of her generation, the holidays were an especially festive time for celebration and a chance to express the wonderful traditions and love of family. Loving daughter of Jean and belated Ernest (Ernie) Lagana, devoted mother to her son Christopher and her daughter Danielle, cherished sister of Carl and Maria (Lagana) Suttmeier, and sister-in-law Sue, "second mom" to nephew Mark and niece Michelle, and grateful recipient of unconditional love of her faithful dog Kaysee. Fran moved to Round Top in Greene County in 2007 after living in Nazareth, PA for nearly 25 years where she raised her two children. She worked as a bank teller at Keystone Nazareth Bank and Trust in PA for many years and then worked part-time at the Bank of Greene County in Cairo after she relocated. Perhaps that is why she took such considerable pride in balancing her checkbook to the penny. Fran loved to shop for clothes and always dressed in style. She was small in stature; some might even say ‘mini.’ But if it is true that when God measures a person he puts the tape around their heart, then Fran was a giant. Her family and friends will miss her dearly. Though their hearts are broken, they find some solace in knowing that she has now joined her father and all her aunts and uncles in heaven, and is no doubt very stylishly dressed in the fine robes of righteousness and peace. To paraphrase a line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: "When she shall die take and cut her out in little stars. And she will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night...." You fought the good fight, Francine. Rest in peace. Relatives and friends are invited to pay respects at Sacred Heart Church in Cairo from 10:00 A.M. to 12:15 P.M., Saturday, October 10, 2015. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:30 P.M. at Sacred Heart Church, Cairo. Interment will follow in the family plot of The Round Top Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Francine's name to the Greene County Women's League Cancer Patient Aide Society, P.O. Box 341, Round Top, New York, 12473. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Richards Funeral Home, Cairo, New York. Condolences may be made at www.richardsfuneralhomeinc.net.

Francine Fillmore

November 29, 1947 - October 8, 2015