Francis Patrick Cudahy

FRANCIS PATRICK CUDAHY

Our beloved Uncle and friend to all who met him, reached the end of the line recently at the esteemed age of 85.  We use that term to describe his passing because if you knew Franco, Francis, Frank or Uncle Fran,  you were acutely aware of his love of trains.  Not just locomotives, but his regard for the HO Scale model trains he spent hours designing and building layouts for which led him to join local train clubs such as the Niagara Southern Railroad Society and NOMRE, of which he served as president.  It occurs to us, as we struggle with his passing, he may have loved trains so much because they mirror the journey of life. With a departure and a final stop, but the real magic of trains are the wonderful experiences at each station along the winding tracks.  And what a ride Franco had.

A lifelong resident of the Falls, growing up in a blue-collar home with loving parents and 4 siblings, who all predeceased him.

He attended Bishop Duffy High School before proudly serving in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer.

He loved working with his hands and had a distinguished career at Dunlop, where he retired as a Tire Press Operator.

He found love with his late wife, Delores, and he became a dad to his stepdaughter, Kelly Jurgens.

He is survived by several adoring nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Franco embodied what is the very best about being from WNY.   He loyally cheered for his Buffalo Bills and watching games without him just won’t be the same. He loved to weekend at “The Camp” in Franklinville and knew that around a campfire was where some of life’s best memories were made.   He was also a fixture at Tim Horton’s and his passing has left his “second family” there with a hole in their hearts, not unlike the ones in the doughnuts they serve.

The music of the Bee Gees provided the soundtrack to Franco’s ride on the rails and his dining car always with a lemon meringue pie as the centerpiece of the dessert tray.

He was the first to lend a hand, the last to say a bad word and was kind and loyal to all fortunate to call him friend.  Exactly the qualities you want in the man wearing the conductor’s cap guiding the locomotive.

His life will be honored on Mass of Christian Burial at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Prince of Peace site at 10AM on Saturday, January 21, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests that you honor him by making a donation to your favorite Buffalo Bills charity.

We also request the next time you hear a train whistle, you take a moment and assess where you are on your journey on the tracks.  And ask not for whom that whistle blows, it blows for the great Frank Cudahy.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Francis Patrick Cudahy, please visit our floral store.