Frances Coletta Congema, age 84 of Leland passed peacefully Wednesday October 5, 2022 at home surrounded by her loving family.

She was born July 21, 1938 in Brooklyn, NY daughter of the late Luca and Josephine Coletta. Frances lost her dad at the age of thirteen and played second mother to her two younger sisters. She was also predeceased by a grandson, Joseph John Paul Congema and sister, Lulu Infranco.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Joseph Congema; three children, JoAnn Hamilton and husband Don of Wilmington, Vincent Congema and wife Karen of Leland, and Joseph Congema of Burgaw; nine grandchildren, Ross, Ryan, Dean, Nicholas, Julianne, Marianne, Maria, Lucy and Regina; two great grandchildren, Seven and Kolbe; a sister, Josephine Cariola; and many nieces and nephews.

Frances worked at Entenmann's Cakes for many years. She could throw a baseball better than most men. Frances was a wonderful spouse, and a loving mother and grandmother. She was a tremendous cook who made the best meatballs and sauce imaginable. Her burial will be on her 64 ^th wedding anniversary.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM Tuesday October 11, 2022 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Reverend Father Roger Nyimi will officiate.