Francis A. Colli

09/02/2005

Francis A. Colli, 89, of 821 Pattison Road died Friday at North Adams Regional Hospital. He had moved to North Adams in 2004. Born in Agawam on Nov. 29, 1915, son of Frank and Susie Cebrelli Colli, he was a graduate of the Springfield Trade School. He had lived in Agawam until 1982, when he moved to Northampton. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. Mr. Colli was employed by the former AT&T for over 35 years, retiring as a manager in 1977 from New England Telephone. He had also worked for Otis Elevator and the former Carlisle Hardware Store, both in Springfield. While in Agawam, he was a communicant of St. Anthony's Church of All Saints parish, where he was a lector. He was a member of UNICO and the American Legion Post 185, and had been a city councilman. He became a golfer at age 50 and played until age 86 at the Hickory Ridge Golf Club in Amherst. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. His first wife, the former Alice Solaroli, died in 1977. His wife, the former Beulah Rivers Mutti, died in 2002. He leaves two stepdaughters, Judith M. Grinnell of North Adams, with whom he made his home, and Joanne M. Axelrod of Lyndonville, Vt.; a brother, Thomas Colli of Orlando, Fla.; a sister, Norma Connolly of Agawam, five step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- A Funeral Mass for Francis A. Colli will be Wednesday at 10 in St. Anthony of Padua Church, 108 Bridge St., Agawam, followed by burial in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St. Calling hours will be at AGAWAM FUNERAL HOME, 184 Main St., from 8 to 9:45 before the service. Donations may be made to the Beulah Colli Music Scholarship, c/o Agawam High School, 760 Cooper St., Agawam, MA 01001. He was predeceased by a brother, James Colli.

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