BRAINTREE- Francis W. Tortolano, 95 years of age, of Braintree, entered Life Eternal at the Massachusetts General Hospital on Wednesday, August 17, 2016. He was born in Boston and was a longtime resident of Braintree. He graduated from Boys Latin School in Boston, Boston English High School, and Boston University School of Communication with a degree in Journalism. During WWII he served with the 328th Fighter Squadron and was involved in the air offensive over Europe. He participated in action at the Battle of the Bulge, Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was a journalist and employed at the Providence Journal in Providence, R.I. and was also a journalist for Cahners Publishing Company in Boston and Newton. He retired in 1986. Francis was the beloved husband of the late Mary R. (Tarallo) Tortolano who died in 2003. He is the devoted father of Judith M. Tortolano of Weymouth and Frances L. Connolly married to Gerard T. Connolly of Myrtle Beach, S.C. He is the loving grandfather of Thomas William Connolly of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Mary T. Connolly of Albany, N.Y., and Rachel L. Johnson married to Edward Johnson of Hanover. He was the great grandfather of Samantha and Nicholas Johnson both of Hanover. Francis enjoyed the Patriots and loved music in many forms including opera and classical music. He traveled throughout Europe and had visited most states in the US. Visiting hours will be held at the Mortimer N. Peck-Russell Peck Funeral Home, 516 Washington Street, Braintree on Monday, August 22nd from 4-8pm. There will be a gathering at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 23rd at 9:30am to be followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 856 Washington Street, South Braintree Square at 10:30am. Burial will follow with military honors at the Braintree Cemetery. Memorial donations may be sent to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.

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