Franz Xavier Weidinger, passed away at home in the afternoon of Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 surrounded by his loving family at the age of 88.
Born and raised in Freising a town in Bavaria, Germany to the late Franz Weidinger and Maria (Gortenthaler) Weidinger. He leaves behind his loving wife of 63 years, Stasia (Niedzwiadek) Weidinger. The couple resides in North Providence where they raised their four sons Peter with wife Maria, Jeffrey with wife Barbara, Daniel with partner Arabelly and Steven, his grandchildren, Allison, Franz, Casie, Matthew, Nicholas, Joseph, Jacob and Sophia as well as three great grandchildren, Clyde, Maia and Zosia. He was the beloved brother of Louise Weidinger of Freising, Germany. He was predeceased by older sister Clara Ritchotte and survived by three nephews.
Franz worked in his father’s tailor shop in Germany from the age of fourteen as well as learning from many tailors in his hometown. He then went to school for tailoring and pattern making and achieved his 11 master’s degrees in Munich, Germany. He worked in Germany until he came and settled in Rhode Island where he worked for Kennedy’s Men’s Store and Briggs before spending 33 years working for Donnelly’s where he expanded the business from one to twenty-two stores with his skills, experience, and customer service. After 40 years in the industry Franz opened his own business, Frank’s Fine Tailoring, with his two sons, Daniel and Steven and it is still in operation today by his son Daniel. Franz also took his skills and experience and went on to teach at several local colleges. He was also famously featured as the Tailor of the Stars in Rhode Island Monthly Magazine after he was a tailor to Anthony Quinn. He prided himself on his hard work and recently retired at the age of 84.
Franz was a loving father, grandfather and enjoyed spending his days as an avid traveler. He was known for being a sports enthusiast as well as a long-time member and entertainment director of the German Dramatic Society Club of Providence and later Pawtucket. Franz had many great friends and accomplices and will be sorely missed.
His Funeral will be held on Saturday, December 16th at 9 am from Maceroni Funeral Home, 1381 Smith St. North Providence, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Augustine Church, 639 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Providence. Interment will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Blackstone, MA. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 15th from 4 - 7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Franz’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.