Francesca (D’Agata) Fuchsmann 93 of South Yarmouth died at her home Wednesday May 31, 2017.

She was the wife of the late Robert Fuchsmann who died in 2011.

Raised and educated in Maynard, Francesca was the daughter of the late Jaspare and Cosima D’Agata, who owned a restaurant in Maynard. She was a graduate of Maynard High School, where she was very active as a cheerleader, tennis player, tap dancer and acrobat. Francesca attended Bridgewater Teachers College, and graduated from Burdett Business School.

Francesca moved to Los Angeles at the age of 22 and worked as a medical secretary for two outstanding physicians in Los Angeles for four years. She then took some time off to enjoy being a California girl and travel to all the Hawaiian Islands including a leper colony where she helped bring supplies.

In the 1940’s Francesca boarded a freighter from Boston to Tokyo, Japan and visited her sister, Rose who was serving in the U.S. Army. This trip took six weeks and only had six passengers on board. She lived in Yokohama, fell in love with the city and decided to stay. She worked in the medical department of General Electric.

While living in Japan, Francesca met her husband, Robert at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. They dated, became engaged and got married in 1964. They built a beautiful traditional Japanese home outside Tokyo, that had a lovely view of the ocean. They visited many countries including China, where she walked the Great Wall.

Also while living in Japan, Francesca became fluent in Japanese and learned French. She met Ronald and Nancy Reagan and Frank Sinatra. She had a golf membership and belonged to the Tokyo Lawn and Tennis Club. She spent many wonderful times with friends and did a lot of socializing. She also volunteered with other Americans at a Tokyo hospital.

After spending 27 wonderful years and cherished memories in Japan, she moved to Madrid, Spain. She traveled there alone, by boat, through Manila and then Vietnam. After several days of rough seas, she arrived in Madrid, where Robert had set up a new apartment. It was a wonderful place to live with friendly people, including friends they had known for years. She also learned Spanish.

Due to Robert’s poor health, they moved to Harwich Port after spending 13 wonderful years in Spain. They then moved to South Yarmouth. While on Cape Cod, Francesca worked as a secretary for a local optician. She also worked at Macy’s and Filene’s in the jewelry department, where she acquired her love for jewelry. She was a volunteer at Cape Cod Hospital as an Eucharistic minister, and was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis.

Francesca, and Robert, were avid bridge players. She also enjoyed walking, especially a half marathon for breast cancer on the Cape, and watching tennis from around the world.

Survived by her constant companion for 13 years, Jodie Foster II, who enriched her life, is now being cared for by her good friend, Ruth in Hyannis. In addition to her husband and parents, Francesca was predeceased by her five siblings, three dachshunds, Peppi, Mitzi, and Gina Lollobrigida, a boxer, Homer, and a Yorkie, Jodie Foster.

Francesca would like to thank all her wonderful friends and neighbors for the loving help and support over the last many years. “Dear friends, have a Mimosa and think of me”.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday June 9 in Sacred Heart Chapel, 32 Summer St., Yarmouth Port.

Interment will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Pine St., Centerville.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the MSPCA, 1577 Falmouth Rd., Centerville, MA 02632.

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