Francesco "Frank" Cilona's Obituary
Frank Cilona, 86, of Lorain, Ohio, passed away peacefully in his home on February 24, 2026.
Frank was born on December 9th, 1939, to Guiseppe and Carmela Cilona in the small town of Cianciana, Sicily, where he was raised. Frank became a barber at the young age of 11 and sharpened his skills over a lifetime, continuing in the trade until his recent retirement. He was known for his classic haircuts and his close-knit relationships with his cherished customers.
Aligned with his strong Sicilian heritage, Frank’s greatest joy was his family. He was known to pinch the cheeks on the faces of those he loved, and his grandchildren were no strangers to this practice. Frank went to great lengths to care for them and would famously greet you with the pressing question, “Did you eat?” He had a love for food and quite a sweet tooth, often stashing candy and chocolates to share. He enjoyed cooking, keeping a robust vegetable garden, eating various pastas, collecting riddles and jokes from magazines, dancing with his wife, traveling, spending time with his family, listening to Dean Martin, barbering, and sharing meals with his loved ones. Frank had an extensive collection of hats from the many places he traveled. He was a sharp dresser and was almost never seen in anything but a suit coat and tie.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Cilona. Frank and Mary met at the ages of 16 and 19 in the town of Luton, England, where she worked in her family’s flower shop. Fate would have it that Frank emigrated to Luton to work as a barber and support his family back home in Sicily. Mary went to great lengths to “bump into” Frank, a handsome young Sicilian man who worked around the corner. Despite speaking entirely different languages, their love — and ability to communicate — grew through the years, and so did their family. Frank eventually moved his wife and two children, Adrian and Tracy, to America to start a new life and chase the American dream. Frank’s life story is a testament to a work ethic grounded in his deep desire to provide and care for his family.
After 62 years of marriage to Mary, Frank leaves behind a loving family who will remember him for his generosity, love, never-ending appetite, sense of humor, and cheek pinches. He will be deeply missed by his family, including his surviving sister, Rose (Pat) Alfano; son, Adrian (Judy) Cilona; daughter, Tracy (William) Welch; six grandchildren: Nicole (Timothy) Holt, Kayla (Zachary) Heigelmann, Michael Cilona, Taylor Cilona, Emily Welch, and Mya (Jake) Deemer; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Steve Cilona, and his parents, Guiseppe and Carmela Cilona.
A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, March 1, 2026 from 1-2 PM followed by a memorial service at 2 PM at Dovin & Reber Jones Funeral and Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, OH 44001.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Frank's memory to the American Cancer Society online at https://www.cancer.org/donate
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