Francis’ Obituary Pawtucket – Francis P. Crawley, 81, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, May 10, 2019. An Irish Wake full of loving memories that started a little early. He was the beloved husband of Joan A. (Biron) Crawley for fifty-eight years.
The couple were married at Notre Dame Church, Central Falls, on the Fourth of July and Frank had a fireworks celebration for the love of his life every year. A son of the late Patrick J. and Mary J. (Lavin) Crawley, he was raised in Central Falls and had resided in Pawtucket since 1960. Frank proudly served in the United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Company and was faithful to the Corps values throughout his life.
Once a Marine always a Marine is how he lived his life. Proud and True. After settling in Pawtucket, Frank became active in his church and community while the couple raised their five children.
He was an Altar Boy in Central Falls, a graduate of Holy Trinity Grammar School and a 1955 graduate of St. Raphael Academy. Frank graduated Magna Cum Laude from Roger Williams University, BS Business Administration; graduated Summa Cum Laude from Johnson and Wales College, AS Business Management; graduated from Rutgers University Utilities Management Program and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He also attended the Rhode Island Radio and Electronics School, International Correspondence Schools and URI Extension.
He began his career at the power plants of Blackstone Valley Electric Company in 1959. Later transferring to the Engineering Department and promoted to supervisor in 1976. Frank spent thirty-five years working for Eastern Utilities Associates, parent company of Blackstone Valley Electric Company.
He worked in the power plants, engineering department, construction, both underground and overhead lines, accounting, special projects team, coordinating the standardization of reporting construction work in progress for accounting and payroll purposes. He was assistant to the president at Brockton Edison and the Fall River Light Company. Frank retired in 1995 having served as Safety Manager for all system companies, developing and implementing safe work practices and overseeing compliance with OSHA and DOT regulations.
He was also the Resident Engineer, Corp Section, ZAP Cleanup and Project Engineer ECO. Frank then served the City of Pawtucket as Director of Administration for his dear friend the late Mayor James E. Doyle. Frank relished being at the center of public service, an Irishman’s delight.
He was a parishioner of St. Joseph Church and St. Teresa Church where he served on numerous parish committees, as well as serving as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. A Man for All Reasons, Frank will be remembered for his devotion to his family and his deep faith. He said that he was abundantly blessed by God with a loving wife and family.
Frank was a member and past-president of the Pawtucket Jaycees and in 1970 he was selected as Jaycee of the year. He was a former vice-president and had held various chairmanships for the Rhode Island Jaycees. He was presented with a Senatorship in the RI Jaycees, the highest honor that can be presented and only after years of distinguished service.
At the RI Jaycees Convention in 1971 Frank was selected as the “Outstanding State Chairman” and the “Spark Plug” of the RIJC by the state organization. He credited his experience in the Jaycees as the foundation of his success. Frank had served as Chairman of the United Way State Budget Panel and on other local United Way Committees.
He also served as Chair of the Advanced Gifts Campaign in the Blackstone Valley Catholic Charity Drive, past-president of St. Joseph’s Holy Name Society, President of the BVG&E Employees Credit Union for twenty-two years and Treasurer of the Ocean State Athletic Club for ten years. He was a member of the Johnson & Wales Athletic Club and was Treasurer of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 9. Frank was an avid runner who participated in many local road races.
He especially enjoyed the times he ran next to his children, always letting them finish ahead of him. Frank had fond memories of moments with his family at the beach house in Narragansett where he enjoyed the solitude of taking an early morning run on the beach and swimming laps in the ocean. He always enjoyed family vacations, camping and all of the special times with his brothers and sisters and their families in Rhode Island and Newtown, PA.
Frank and Joan traveled extensively in their retirement and Frank had the honor of raising the American Flag at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France. An Irish gentleman to the end. He had a keen wit and sense of humor, a fierce loyalty to his family and true friends, fair and respectful to his foes.
He will be remembered as a man of honesty and integrity. Frank enjoyed life to the fullest. He leaves behind a legacy of unparalleled positivity, energy and extreme loyalty.
A stern, but fair leader, he did what he said and his word was never doubted. Besides his wife, he leaves five children, retired Pawtucket Police Detective Captain Kevin Francis Crawley and his wife, Kara, retired Pawtucket Firefighter Michael Francis Crawley and his wife, Kathleen, Marybeth Malley and her husband, Hugh, Christopher J. Crawley and Erin J. Cirello and her husband, Mark and a sister, Sister Eileen Crawley, PBVM. He was an especially proud “Da” to his fifteen grandchildren, Patrick, Michaela, Kyle, Trevor, Hope, Cormac, Keagan, Hannah, Zoe, CJ, Nicholas, Kali, Connor, Kaiden and Catherine and relished in the special relationships he developed with each of them.
He also leaves his five godchildren, Jack Crawley, Dan Matthews, Claire Walker, Sharon Baptiste and Christopher Crawley, Jr. and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Mary Matthews, Catherine McCaffrey, Andrew, John, Joseph, Patrick, Rose-Marie and Leo Crawley. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in St. Teresa Church, 358 Newport Ave.
, Pawtucket. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Mt. St. Mary Cemetery.
VISTATION will be Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave. , Pawtucket. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, PO Box 3102, Pawtucket, RI 02861 or Hope Hospice & Palliative Care RI, 1085 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904 would be appreciated.
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