- Date Of Birth: July 11, 1930
- Date Of Death: November 6, 2016
- State: Illinois
Frances Ann (Ambrose) Baratta, 86, of LaSalle, passed away Sunday, November 6, 2016 at Serenity Hospice Home in Oregon, IL. Mrs. Baratta was born on July 11, 1930 in Boston, MA to Dominic and Sadie (Jakstas) Ambrose. She married Dominic “Tony” Baratta on September 27, 1958 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Boston, MA.Frances served as bookkeeper for the City of LaSalle and Baratta Monument Company. From 1977 to 1997, she served as City Clerk of LaSalle and later served as City Treasurer for several years.
She then worked as secretary at North Central Behavioral Systems. She was a member of the Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in LaSalle serving as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector and Sunday School teacher. Frances was also a member of Illinois Valley Cursillo and Illinois Municipal Clerk League. She volunteered at the PADS Shelter and LaSalle Veteran’s Home. She was a devout Catholic and an accomplished seamstress, who enjoyed reading, puzzles, traveling and being with her family, especially all her grandchildren. An avid Cubs and Bears fan, she enjoyed attending and watching sports games especially when her grandchildren were playing. Fran always loved and cared for everyone and treated all with respect no matter their lot in life.
Her parents emigrated from Lithuania and she was a first generation American. She loved her family, life and our country. She will be sorely missed by her family. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She is survived by her children, Tony (Lori) Baratta of Dixon, Kathy (Barry) Smith of LaGrange, GA, Teresa (Randy) Happ of Milan and Jake Baratta of LaSalle; 7 grandchildren, Alyssa and Dominic Baratta, Trey and Olivia Smith, Matthew Barr, Eric and Ethan Happ; one great-grandson, Adam Happ; her brother and sister in-law, Marie (Virgil) Cioni of LaSalle and several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on May 24, 1978; one granddaughter, Meghann Smith in October 2016 and one sister, Helen.
