Obituary of Francis Xavier Cassar

May 21, 1927 - December 2, 2018

Francis X. Cassar.  Age 91 of Woodhaven.  

Francis passed away December 2, 2018 at 3:45 p.m.  He was born May 21, 1927 in St. Paul’s Bay, Malta. During World War ll, he served in the British Royal Navy serving as a steward to Prince Phillip Mountbatten, the future husband of Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh, until the war’s end. Following the war, he immigrated to Canada, returning to Malta to bring his bride, Giovanna, back to London, Ontario, Canada. The couple settled there, having five children.  Frank helped other Maltese immigrants find jobs and homes, often offering up his own home until they were settled. In 1964, his job transferred him to the United States where he and his family eventually settled in Detroit MI, and where he retired as a line supervisor from Cadillac in 1987.

There was nothing Frank could not do, from dancing, roller skating, building a house, or doing logarithms in his head. He believed in doing what was right and sharing his knowledge with his neighbor. He was often the person people went to find a solution to the problem to which they could not find an answer. His sense of family and community, combined with a quick wit and lighthearted sense of humor, is likely why he had approximately 30 God children.  Frank and his wife of 64 years, Giovanna (Galea) were members of the Detroit Maltese Club, and the parishes of The Most Holy Redeemer in Detroit and Our Lady of the Woods in Woodhaven.

Frank is survived by his wife, Giovanna; his five children, Mary Grace Cassar (Lawrence Nurre), Josephine Cassar (Robert McCoy), Reno Cassar (Mary), Rosemarie Micallef (James), and Cameline Rybinski (Steven); his 13 grandchildren, Jessica Swanson (Marc), Catherine Trombley (James Peavy), Robert Trombley (Shelby), Amanda Seidel (Chris), Paul Cassar (Hailey), Margaret Dolder (Joseph), Ila Cassar, John Micallef (Christina), Kevin Micallef (Alaina), Stephan Rybinski, Dominic Rybinski, Cecilia Rybinski and Victoria Rybinski; and 9 great-grandchildren (with one on the way) – each of whom will tell you he or she was Frank’s favorite.

Public visitation will be held Thursday, December 6, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. with Rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Molnar Funeral Homes located at 23700 West Rd, Brownstown Charter Twp, MI 48183. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, Dec. 7th at 10 a.m. with In-State viewing of the body at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Woods Church, located at 21892 Gudith Rd, Woodhaven, MI 48183. Procession to the Parkview Memorial Cemetery at 34205 Five Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48154 will follow the mass.

A Memorial Luncheon is planned at the Italian American Banquet Center at 1 p.m. located at 39200 Five Mile Rd., Livonia MI 48154.

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made In Memory of Francis X. Cassar to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.