Francis S. Masaitis

Francis S. Masaitis was born on August 9, 1924 at home on 122 Arthur St. in the Lithuanian Village of Brockton, Massachusetts. He was the son of Frank Masaitis and Constance Visgaitis. Francis was the third child of that union. He had an older brother Joseph and sister Anita whom he outlived.  His parents divorced when Fran was 3 at which time his mother moved to Hazelton, PA with her 3 young children. He describes his childhood as a hard one, living in poverty during the great depression. His mother was a single mother for a time working in a silk mill.  He lived with his maternal grandparents Ann and Stanley Visgaitis until his mother remarried Charles Bogdon. They had 2 children, Marie and Charlie whom he also outlived.

            Fran attended St. Peter and Paul’s Roman Catholic Church where he was an altar server. He held true to his Catholic beliefs his entire life.  While in high school, he delivered milk on weekends and swept floors. He was a member of the debate team during high school and excelled in mathematics. After high school, Fran joined the US Navy during World War II and worked as a 1st class quartermaster aboard the USS PC 606(US Andrew) excelling in navigation. He traveled the South Pacific and the Caribbean including the Solomon Islands, Panama, Cuba and New Heberds. His monthly pay was 50 dollars of which he sent the entire allotment to his family back home in Pennsylvania.

            After the war, he married Jean Isabel Beck on February 2, 1947.  He was the father of twins, Francis S. Masaitis Jr. (deceased) and Linda Jean Masaitis Cosgrove and then a younger daughter Nancy Joan Masaitis Sergio. He raised his family in Brockton, Massachusetts where he worked hard as a sheetrocker and taper. He worked 2 jobs for most of his life and was a saver.  He was known for his hard work and frugality. He enjoyed gardening, bowling, golfing, traveling and was a member of the local VFW.  He loved his family, lobster and making homemade bread.

                        Fran passed away on December 31, 2020 from complications of old age. He was 96. He is survived by his daughters Linda Cosgrove and her husband Richard who cared for him in his later years, his daughter Nancy Sergio and grandchildren Tammy Cosgrove Rosbach and husband Mark, Michael Masaitis and wife Denise, Mark Sergio and wife Linda and Corinne Masaitis and husband David. Also, he has many nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren and his companion, Mary Rau. All are welcome to visitation Saturday, June 19, 2021 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Waitt Funeral Home, 850 North Main St. Brockton followed by his memorial Mass at 10:30 at Christ the King formerly St. Colman Church and burial at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to Make A Wish Foundation. 

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