In loving memory of Franco who sadly lost his battle to Pulmonary Fibrosis on the 24/02/2012 aged 79. Eulogy Gianfranco Ceriani lovingly known as Franco was a true Italian. He was born in Verona on the 1st September 1932. Although he travelled and lived the majority of his life in Wales he always classed Italy as his home. In his youth in Verona he spent his time swimming, bike riding and boxing which reflected in his later passion for sport. He often talked of how he swam in Lake Garda every morning and of his film appearance as a gladiator in Spartacus. He first came to the Swansea in 1955, after a short time in France. He never planned to settle in Wales but all that changed in January 1956 when he met Giovanna originally from Bardi, they later married that December and settled in Swansea. They went on to have two children Ines in 1957 and Angelo in 1959. Through an industrial accident in 1960 he lost an eye at the age of 28. With two young children to support they set up a family business running a Chip Shop from their home. The business prospered and they were soon running three shops. Franco would often boast that theirs was the first chip shop in the whole of South Wales to introduce spit roasted chicken. In 1981 the family moved to Barry where they opened The Straw Hat on Barry Island. The Island was in its hay day and the cafe was often frequented by famous people and Franco was proud to have cooked for the likes of Tom Jones. He retired in 1991 but hardly a day went by without Franco visiting the Island for coffee and catching up with friends. During this period half their time was spent returning to Bardi, were Franco was well known and well loved. Bardi was his second home, where he felt comfortable amongst friends. He loved the slow pace of life there, siestas in the afternoon and card playing in the evenings. Gianfranco was not only blessed by a loving wife and two children he also had a loving daughter in-law in Lisa, eight grand- children - Giacomo, Stefania, Francesca, Victoria, Robert, Dafydd, Claudio and Monica and five great grand-children Ashley, Mickey, Ruby, Emma and Sienna. He was devoted to his grandchildren and spent his retirement looking after them. Like Frank Sinatra, Franco ‘Did it his way’. He never stuck to time scales and he’d always argue his point, even trying to convince you black was white. If he said something was good you knew it was bad as he often spoke in opposites. He had a great sense of humor and got on with young and old alike. He will be remembered for his black hat that he never left the house without, his cooking, singing which he always said he was better at than Pavarotti and his love of family, friends and life. Nessun Dorma - Andrea Bocelli http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGKQ8YASCY I did it my way - Frank Sinatra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aht9hcDFyVw