Francis Gillet Foronda

Francis was born in Piddig, Philippines to Saturnino, Sr. and Lucienne Gillet Foronda on March 26, 1943. He was the third youngest amongst his nine siblings and grew up in a musical and religious family. He attended the seminary at Immaculate Conception School of Theology in Vigan, Philippines and was the closest among his brothers to becoming a priest. He later graduated with his Bachelors degree from St. Louis University in Baguio, Philippines. He met the love of his life, Leticia Lagasca (aka Letty), in the Philippines. They both migrated separately to the United States and on January 2, 1971, they were married in Petersburg, Indiana. He taught high school level Spanish and Literature while in Indiana. Francis and Letty had 2 children, Michelle and Nathan in Jasper, Indiana.

In the early 1980’s, he moved his family to Northern Virginia and worked various telecommunication jobs for AT&T, Lucent, and Avaya for 15 years. In 1997, Francis and Letty moved to Largo, Florida where they both retired. He loved being by the water and going to the beach and picking mangoes and avocados from the trees in his backyard, but especially enjoyed traveling and spending time with his wife, Letty.

He was involved with anything that had to do with music, from composing music, teaching piano lessons to children, singing with church choirs, acting as an interim music director at St. Patrick’s Church in Largo, Florida, barbershop quartet, and entertaining the residents in his senior community. He enjoyed coordinating music programs and recitals, as he once did in the Philippines with the Foronda Music Studio. In addition to music, he enjoyed watching sports particularly basketball, football, boxing and tennis. He was so very proud of his kids and grandkids and his face lit up when he spoke about them.

In June 2023, Francis and Letty moved to Woodbridge, Virginia to be near his children and he enjoyed his short time at Acclaim at Belmont Bay, Independent Senior Living Community. In a nutshell, music was his passion and he loved to entertain people.

Francis is preceded in death by his parents, Saturnino Foronda Sr. and Lucienne Foronda; and his siblings, Claude Foronda, Christiane Foronda, Evelyn Foronda, Raoul Foronda, and Maryrose Lacuesta.

Francis is survived by his wife, Letty Foronda; his daughter, Michelle Foronda Allen and son-in law, David Allen, his son, Nathan Foronda and daughter-in-law, Rosario Foronda; his 2 brothers, Paul Foronda (partner, Sandy Wood) and Saturnino Jr. (wife, Ely Foronda); his 2 sisters, Yolanda Kuperman and Beatriz Miranda; his 5 grandchildren, KJ Davis, Tiana Davis, Kiara Davis, Dominic Foronda and Sebastian Foronda; and his 3 great-grandchildren, Brooklynn Davis, Keenan Davis and Raelynn Davis, along with many nephews, nieces and their children, and many friends from the church, neighborhood and senior community.

The viewing will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on July 7th at Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA. The funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on July 8th at St Michael’s Catholic Church, 7401 St Michael’s Lane, Annandale, VA.