Francesco “Frank” Lai
Died: June 28, 2025 | Place: London, Ontario
Services
Visitation
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
6:00 – 9:00 pm
A. Millard George Funeral Home
60 Ridout Street South
London, Ontario
N6C 3X1
Obituary
LAI, Francesco “Frank”
Frank passed away peacefully at the age of 98 on Saturday, June 28, 2025 in London, Ontario. Born in Jerzu, Sardinia, Italy on February 5, 1927, Frank was the 5th of 7 children born to Vittorio Lai and Battistina Carta. He is predeceased by five of his siblings (Salvatore, Antonio, Luigi, Mario, and Maria) and by his daughter, Lucy. Frank came from a wine-making family, but apprenticed as a tailor under his brother Antonio. He moved to Siniscola, Sardinia to open up a tailor shop in the 1940s. There he met his future wife, Grazia (Grace) Deiana. Hearing stories of Canada from his father who worked here from coast to coast for fifteen years, Frank decided to take his chance and move to London, Ontario in 1950 where his uncle Francesco Carta had settled. Frank worked hard, bought a house, and proposed to Grace. Unable to go back to Sardinia for his own wedding (with Grace unable to go to Canada unless she was married), the marriage was done by proxy (his brother Salvatore stood in Frank’s place at the alter) on March 27, 1954 while Frank was in London celebrating with his friends. Grace arrived in Halifax on June 6. The two, who were inseparable, were happily married for 71 years. Our Dad was a loving, caring man who taught his children love, kindness, hard work, and integrity. He worked hard all of his life – he worked at Texmain Cleaners during the day and tailored at night until the wee hours of the morning running his tailor shop (Frank Lai’s Tailoring) which was at the front of our house on Hamilton Road. He was good at everything. He built his own garage, tended a massive flower and vegetable garden with Grace, and made homemade wine from grapes delivered from California, while working those very long hours daily. Frank loved mathematics. Though he was only able to attend school up to Grade 5 in Italy (education was free only to Grade 5), his love for math and its precision was projected through his tailoring as he made suits, dresses, pants, etc. for his clients. He loved the precision of tailoring and was always focused on the task in hand regardless of what was going on around him.
He is survived by his wife Grace, sons Vito (Rachel and Joshua), Francesco (Christina and Nicholas), sister Virginia, and countless nieces and nephews in Sardinia, throughout Italy, and in Canada. Though he is gone physically, our memories of him will keep him alive forever within our hearts and minds. We love you, Dad.
We would also like to thank the staff members on Marian Villa 3 for the care and support they gave Dad during his stay as well as their continuing care and support for Mom.
Family and friends are welcome to a visitation on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. A private funeral service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
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Nigel Long - Mount Hope Long Term Care
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