Anthony Francavilla Jr.

Our beloved, Anthony Joseph Francavilla, Jr., passed away peacefully on September 1, 2022.

Anthony is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Shirley, and his twin brother Richard. Anthony and Shirley have five children including Kathryn Ann (Tom), Julie Elizabeth (Kevin), Anthony Joseph III (Sara),  † Mark Paul and Michael Christopher. Anthony and Shirley have ten wonderful grandchildren.  Anthony was preceded in death by his parents Anthony and Elizabeth, and his sister, Elizabeth.

In January 1934, Anthony and his identical twin brother Richard, were born after a legendary snowstorm that blew in off the Atlantic into New York. Their devoted mother, Elizabeth, had prayed to Mother Mary and asked for twin boys. Her prayers were answered with the births of Anthony and Richard. She then prayed for a girl and got the gift of Anthony and Richard’s younger sister, Elizabeth.

With his twin brother Richard by his side, Anthony had an idyllic childhood in Brooklyn and then Staten Island, New York. Anthony spent countless hours with his twin brother and best friend Richard, playing and coaching baseball, fishing and swimming at the beach, bike riding and enjoying ice cream.

Anthony began his higher education journey earning an associate degree in chemistry at City College of New York, where he studied while commuting on the Staten Island Ferry to and from the city.

After being drafted, Anthony served in the U.S. Army and was eventually stationed at Ft. Carson, where he played his trombone in the Army Band and discovered Colorful Colorado. He went on to attend the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, meeting and falling in love with his beautiful bride to be Shirley, who was in Colorado to start her music education career as a teacher.

Anthony and Shirley were married and went on to truly devote their lives to their family and community, active in St. Anne’s Catholic Church and St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, both in Arvada.

Anthony’s higher education went on to includes a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Denver and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado.

Working 40 years for the State of Colorado, Anthony’s career was truly one of service to the community. Anthony was the Director of Vocational Rehabilitation for the State of Colorado and tirelessly advocated for people with disabilities, helping to draft the beginnings of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Anthony had a life well lived with his wife Shirley, his children and beautiful grandchildren who will all miss him dearly.

Recitation of the Rosary will take place on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at St Joan Of Arc, 12735 W. 58th Ave, Arvada, CO 80002 at 10:00 AM. Mass of the Resurrection will take place following the Rosary and will begin at 10:30 AM. A private burial will take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery.