FRANCESCA MARTINO (nee Ricotta), of South Hackensack, died on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at the age of 80. She was born in Alia, Sicily and came to the United States in 1964. Francesca was loved by many friends and family, she will be greatly missed. She will be especially remembered for her natural beauty and her love of flowers especially roses. Her friends will especially remember her for making the best Christmas and Easter cookies on this side of the Atlantic and her generosity in helping them make great quantities of cookies for their families. Francesca’s family will always cherish her great cooking, and the way she approached life with perseverance and tenacity and always putting family first. Prior to retiring in the 1980’s, she worked for many years at S. Goldberg Slipper Factory in Hackensack. Her daughters will especially remember her tenderness of heart toward the less fortunate. She had a special devotion to the Christian Saints especially to Maria SS. Delle Grazie and Padre Pio. She was a parishioner of St. Francis R.C. Church in Hackensack. In her later years she became a member of Gilda’s Club of Northern New Jersey.Francesca is the beloved wife of now deceased Giuseppe Martino. Loving mother of Serena Martino of Hackensack, NJ and Maria Gaglioti and her husband Paul of Warren, NJ. Cherished grandmother of Paul and Joseph Gaglioti. Dearest sister of Salvatore Ricotta and sister-in-law of Carmela Ricotta of Maywood and sister of Lina Ricotta Zarcone and sister-in-law of Antonino Zarcone of Italy. She is the sister-in-law of Rosa Amico and her husband Vincent of Hackensack, Domenica Drago and her husband Joseph of Livingston, NJ. And the late Giovanni Martino and his wife Angela of Hackensack. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews in the US and Italy. The Funeral on Tuesday April 10, 2012 at 10:45 AM from the G. Thomas Gentile Funeral Home, 397 Union Street, Hackensack, NJ.  The Mass of Christian Burial at St. Francis R.C. Church, 50 Lodi Street, Hackensack, at 12:00 PM. Entombment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 PM. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Gilda’s Club of Northern NJ, 575 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601.