Yesterday our beautiful father died. What tribute can you pay a man whose whole life was a tribute? A tribute to goodness, kindness, caring and generosity. Francis Fasano Banning passed away on his 84^th birthday with his loving family by his side. He was born in Port Arthur and raised at Squaw Bay. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army on November 17, 1942 and served overseas in the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment during the invasion of France, he was in the second wave on D. Day June 6, 1944. On July 20 1994 he was wounded and returned to Canada in November. On the 12^th of May 1945 he married "The best woman of my life" Evelyn O’Connor. Together they raised seven sons and four daughters. They would have celebrated 65 years of marriage this year. Frank worked for the City in the Parks and Recreation Department for forty four years retiring in 1986. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the (Superior) Thunder Bay Municipal Employees Credit Union. Frank was a longtime member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #6 and for the past fifteen years organized a Remembrance Day Service on Mount McKay especially for aboriginal veterans. The church was a major part of Frank’s life and he was a member of St. Patrick’s Cathedral for many years and was an usher for over twenty of those years. Frank is survived by his loving wife Evelyn, children Francis Roy (Geraldine), , Keith Arthur (Karen), Rodney Allan (Celeste), Gloria MayAnn (Don Zeleny), Lynda Marie (Armand Morin), Kevin Patrick, (Janet), Mark Evan Michael, Susan Kelly (Leo Simpson), Catherine (Régis Laforest), Larry Eugene (Jolené), Steven’s wife Judy, forty grandchildren, thirty nine great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren, sisters Lyla Bannon, Geraldine MacLaurin and numerous other relatives also survive. He was predeceased by son Steven Joseph, grandson Stephan Francis, father Francisco Fasano, stepfather Jacob Bannon, mother May Bannon, sisters Zelma Risanen, Eugenia Morrison, Helen Fasano, Marilyn MacLaurin, Phyllis Bannon (Vincent), Hazel Arnberg, brother Eugene Bannon, grandparents Liza and Andrew Bannon and best friend John Baptiste (Sunshine) Louis.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2010 when family and friends will gather for the Funeral Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral at 10:00 a.m. celebrated by Rev. Msgr. P.M. Stilla V.G. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Vigil Prayers will be offered on Wednesday, evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Blake Funeral Chapel. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #6 will conduct a Legion Service of Honour in conjunction with the prayers. If friends desire, memorials to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or St. Joseph’s Foundation would be appreciated.