Francine E. Modica

MODICA - Francine E. Of Tonawanda, entered into rest May 7, 2018; beloved wife of Terry Granger; loving daughter of the late Philip and Corinne Modica; dear sister of Corinne (Don) Lavin and Elisabeth (Gary) Uellendahl; cherished sister-in-law of Angela (Joseph) Orsene, Patrick (late Christeen) Granger, Mary Lou (Patrick) Kehoe, Paula Granger, Marguerite Stephens, Joanne (James) Steinwandel, Susan (Mark Drumlevitch) Granger, and Barbara Hart; also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Relatives and friends may visit the LOMBARDO FUNERAL HOME (Northtowns Chapel), 885 Niagara Falls Blvd., near Eggert/Sheridan Dr., on Thursday (May 31), from 3-8 PM, where a Funeral Service will be held on Friday morning at 10 o'clock. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Fran's memory may be made to the Hospice Foundation of WNY, 225 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga, NY 14227. Francine E. Modica, of the Town of Tonawanda, an attorney specializing in matrimonial and family law, died May 7 in Hospice Buffalo, Cheektowaga. She was 65. Born in Brooklyn, the second of three sisters, she grew up on Long Island and was a 1971 graduate of Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park. After earning a bachelors degree from Buffalo State College, she worked as an Erie County 911 emergency dispatcher and in the office of the Erie County Attorney. Ms. Modica went on to graduate from the University at Buffalo Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1992. She began her legal career with the Buffalo firm of Siegel, Kelleher and Kahn, then in 2002 opened her own practice on Sheridan Drive in the Town of Tonawanda. She met her husband, criminal defense attorney Terry Granger, while he was filing papers in the Erie County Clerks office in 1994. They made annual visits to Italy. Ms. Modica enjoyed cooking and gardening and won a Garden Walk award for her efforts. Granger said that when she first experienced symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) three years ago, she refused to let it dictate how she lived. She was never angry. She never felt sorry for herself. She retired in 2016 after the disease began hindering her ability to speak. Prior to her death, she established the Francine E. Modica Endowment Fund with the Hospice Foundation of Western New York to provide support for people with ALS who need hospice services.