Francis Joseph Yorio Sr.

Francis J. Yorio died peacefully on July 27, 2023, at home in Charlotte, surrounded by his family. He was 96. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eleanor (Wozniak), five children: Fran Jr. (Karen), Jim (Debbie), Jo Anne Sullivan (Kevin), Mary Ellen Lyghtel (Ed) and Kathy Wyatt (Andy), along with 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his parents Pius and Anna Yorio, siblings Tony, Joe, Pius, Helen Woeppel and Kate Marmuscak, and granddaughter Anne Sullivan. An older brother, also named Joe, died at 3 before Fran was born.

Fran was born on July 7, 1927, in Corning, N.Y. He attended Corning Free Academy, leaving before graduation (his dear mother, Anna, picked up his diploma) to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He served as a radar operator on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kearsarge.

Following WWII, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Buffalo and went into the life insurance business with John Hancock, where he helped countless families over 41 years. With John Hancock he worked in Buffalo and Allegany, N.Y. and later served as General Agent in Erie, Pennsylvania and South Bend, Indiana.

He maintained a lifelong devotion to his Catholic faith. During their Erie years, Fran and Ellie became involved in the Cursillo Movement, which Fran said, “changed my life.”

Fran retired in 1989. He and Ellie later moved to Lake Placid, Florida. He remained very active, enjoying a new career as a homebuilding general contractor. He made time to mentor a young man through high school to graduation. He took formal training to become Choo Choo the Clown (a reference to his father’s career and his own summer job working on the railroad in upstate New York), where he entertained countless children and senior citizens for many years as a member of Toby’s Clown Alley. Fran and Ellie lived in Summerfield, Florida before moving to Greenville, S.C. in 2015 and Charlotte in 2018.

Fran loved to tell jokes. During Fran and Ellie’s recent years at senior citizen facilities, he was known for having a new joke and a piece of Werther’s candy for everyone he passed in the hallway or met in the dining room. He was the ultimate host who made it almost impossible for visitors to stop by without eating something. Hot dogs were a personal favorite. He loved grilling steaks (very rare), “hamburgs” and hot dogs at cookouts with family and friends.

He was a devoted fan of Notre Dame football and enjoyed watching sports and old Westerns on TV. He fondly reminisced about his years as a sportsman, especially his deer hunting trips to N.Y. with his brothers and other family members. He enjoyed giving rides on his pontoon boat, “The Anna” on Lake Placid. He was also a skilled and enthusiastic bocce player during many family reunions through the years.

Fran was a leader who accomplished a great deal and had many passions in a life well lived. But what defines his life and inspires all who knew him are his strong faith and love for his family.

A Funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 11, 2023 at St. Ann Catholic Church, 3635 Park Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28209.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Corning (N.Y.) Community Food Pantry at corningfoodpantry.com.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com for the Yorio family.