Eileen Dolly Fracassi

Eileen "Dolly" Fracassi, 82, Bismarck, passed away Tuesday May 1, 2012, at the Maple View East Memory Care facility. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:30 pm Monday, May 7, at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck, with Rev. John Guthrie officiating. Burial services will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan at 3 p.m. Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 pm Sunday, May 6, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a rosary will begin at 7 p.m. Dolly was born July 8, 1929, to Hugh and Anne Fortune. In spite of legal blindness at a young age she graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1947, in part, because of reading help from life-long friends. Her lack of vision was never a handicap nor a source of complaint nor ever used as an excuse. She married Leonard Fracassi on June 11, 1949, at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Together they raised six children. With her husband "Frac" working irregular hours on the railroad, Dolly was the primary caregiver in raising their children. Her kids always thought she had a sixth sense to compensate for her lack of eyesight as "pulling the wool over her eyes" was easier said than done. Dolly was deeply devoted to her Catholic faith and always felt that she was blessed to have so many good friends throughout her life. She was 100% Irish and proud of it. She included many Irish melodies in her repertoire of songs that she sang in her beautiful voice while cooking, cleaning, ironing, washing, dusting or vacuuming. Her wittiness and sense of humor were second to none. She enjoyed walking around the Tom O'Leary Golf Course with her friends. When it came to having a positive outlook on life, Dolly's glass was not half-full, it was overflowing. Her lack of vision did not deter her from developing the love of travel. She loved "sight seeing" and had traveled to Ireland, Russia, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Alaska and many of the contiguous United States. Up until her struggles with Alzheimer's, Dolly was a daily communicant at the Cathedral and enjoyed after-church coffee and activities with her many friends. She leaves behind her children: Nancy Tom Dietz, Peggy McMenamy, Denny Anita, all of Bismarck; Tom Becky of Sauk Rapids, MN; and John Rhonda of Keller, Texas. She also leaves behind thirteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren , numerous nieces and nephews, her brother, Joe of Grand Forks, her brother-in-law Warren Van Meter of Denver and her sister-in-law Jean Fortune of Bismarck. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leonard, her son Lenny, and her son-in-law Tom McMenamy. Also preceding her in death were most of her siblings and their spouses: Hugh and Beverly Fortune, Mary Van Meter, Margaret and George Seaworth, Rita and Jack Mulloy and Tom, John, Rosaleen, and Leo Fortune. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Mary's Central High School in memory of Dolly Fortune-Fracassi.

Eileen Dolly Fracassi

July 8, 1929 - May 1, 2012