Francesco "Cheech" Magrone, 88, died July 26, 2020 at home where he was being cared for by his wife and wonderful caregivers, Cathy Timbury and Sera Tuthill.

He was born January 17, 1932 in Bethel, VT the only son of Paul and Rose (DeCicco) Magrone.  Cheech grew up in Bethel and graduated from Whitcomb High School before serving in the US Army as a railroad engineer in Korea during the Korean War.  November 9 ^th , 1957, Cheech was married to Ann Snelling of Randolph, VT.  They lived in Bethel for a short time before making their home and raising their four children in White River Jct.   After returning from the military he worked as an engineer for the Central Vermont Railroad for 40 years.  He was also an Electrolux salesman for many years in the White River Jct. area.  After his retirement Cheech worked at the Quechee Lakes Golf Course for 18 years.

Supporting the wonderful work of the Shriners Hospitals and Burn Centers was very dear to him.  He was a 60-year member of the White River Masonic Lodge #90 in Bethel and the Cairo Shrine Temple in Rutland where he was an Ambassador and Representative to the Imperial Council in Toronto.  He served many years on the Board of Governors for the VT/NH Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl including as a president.  For forty years he solicited ads and donations of many many thousands of dollars for the game which supports this great philanthropy.

Cheech was also a member of many local civic groups including the White River Jaycees, the Hartford Elks, White River Lions Club, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.  He was a past trustee of the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ and served on Hartford's first Zoning Board.

He was predeceased by a son, Paul; a daughter, Angela; and four sisters Sophia Benson Rice, Pauline O'Neill Conners, Andela Farrington and Angela Geno.

He leaves his wife of 63 years, Ann, of Hartford; daughters, Francesca Stetson (Richard) of Soldotna, AK and Lisa Worley (Bruce) of New Hartford, CT; grandsons Francesco (Jen) Worley,  Isaiah Worley and Stephen (Yanisa) Worley as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Calling hours will be held at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct. Friday July 31 ^st from 5-7PM.  Limited occupancy will be observed so you may have to wait to enter the building.  A funeral service will be held Saturday August 1 ^st at 2PM at the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ in Hartford Village with burial following in the Hartford Cemetery.  Masks and social distancing will be required at all events.

Condolences to Cheech's family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com

Contributions may be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104.