Rose Frances Montecucco

Rose Frances Montecucco died August 19, 2024 at the age of 91.

Francie was born August 21, 1933 in St Johns, Oregon to Agostino and Maria Francesca Calcagno, the last of their six children. Francie graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1951.

Francie was raised on the family vegetable farm and learned to work in the field at a young age. One of her first jobs was to throw dirt clods at the crows to keep them from eating the newly planted seeds. This gave her a great throwing arm and she became the most popular pitcher for the neighborhood boys’ baseball games. This made her into a lifelong sports fan.

The family's farm in St. Johns was taken over during World War II to build Liberty Ships.  The family moved to Endicott St. at Columbia Blvd. From there, Francie witnessed the destruction of the City of Vanport in the flood of 1948. This reinforced her fear of water but the immediate integration of the schools opened her to new cultures, new music, new food, and new friends. This is evident by the wide spectrum of cultures invited to her table. Food was the nourishment of friendship and understanding in Francie’s home. A chance for her to share her Italian roots and learn from others through conversation and food.

After high school Francie worked at the Portland office of Mack Truck. A visiting regional manager was so impressed with her efficiency he offered her a job at the regional office in Palo Alto, California. Francie worked there until 1958 when she returned home to care for her ailing mother. In 1959, Francie married Paul S. Montecucco in Milwaukie, Oregon. The couple started their life together at the new farm in Canby, Oregon where they would put down roots for the rest of their lives.

Francie’s experience at Mack Truck served her well when in 1980 she took over the bookkeeping for Montecucco Farms. As was her perfectionist nature, every cent was always accounted for. With the help of her daughter, Susan, she learned how to use a computer for bookkeeping and moved the farm into the computer age.

Her interest in other cultures and understanding of the immigrant experience led Francie into welcoming, assisting, and mentoring newly arrived immigrants most of whom worked for the farm. No payment was expected, only friendship and love, which was given back in abundance especially during these difficult last months.

Francie’s love of others did not always translate into the sense of adventure Paul had, but she would go along with his travel whims after a brief protest. The beauty of Mexico, the people and the food always brought them to the beautiful beaches. Together and with family they traveled the world enjoying and learning about its diversity and beauty.

Even though Francie only had one grandchild, many children were always welcome at her home; lunch, ice cream, cookies, picking raspberries, helping in her pristine yard, or simply talking about their day; she loved their numerous recitals and ballgames. She was the extra mom and grandmother to many.

Francie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul and her brothers and sisters, Ambrose and Edward Calcagno, Mary Rossetto, Edith Crowther, and Evelyn Montecucco. She is survived by her children: Steve Montecucco (Lee), Susan Myers, and Melinda Montecucco (Rafael) and grandson, Jesse Myers (Zoe); and many cherished nieces and nephews, and every person that shared her table with her, for tea or a full blown multi-course meal.

Recitation of The Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday August 30, 2024 followed by the celebration of Francie's life at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 498 NW 9th Ave, Canby, Ore. 97013 The family suggests remembrances to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, PO Box 730 Canby, Ore. 97013 or to the Paul & Frances Montecucco Beginning Venture Scholarship Endowment Fund, OSU Foundation, 850 SW 35th St., Corvallis, Ore. 97333-4015. Arrangements by Canby Funeral Chapel.