FRANCES K. BUZUN, a great and long-time friend and benefactor of the Salesian Family has gone to the Heavenly Father on October 11, 1996. She died at the Carmelite Sisters' Santa Teresita Hospital. Divine Providence provided the presence of Fr. Paul Caporali, SDB at her bedside as she breathed her last. Her funeral Mass was a spiritual tour de force with the presence of Fr. William Schafer, Provincial and many Salesian priests.
She was born in 1919 in Newark, New Jersey. In 1943 she married Louis Buzun, a musician in a prominent orchestra. They moved to Los Angeles to begin a photolithography business which catered to many clients in the local printing industry.
In the mid-1950's they first met Fr. Felix Penna, SDB one Sunday morning at Holy Angels in Arcadia, CA. Fr. Felix was busy promoting and building the now famous Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, CA. Conquered by his winning, and persuasive ways, they began a relationship with the Salesian Family which lasted over 40 years.
The "printing shop" at the new school was their initial interest. Along with Bro. George Ghiselli, SDB and Bro. Jack McLinden, SDB, they adopted the program which has benefited scores of young men throughout the years. The Buzuns offered a yearly scholarship for a deserving student. Thus did their loyalty to the Salesian Family grow year after year.
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1970's: Mrs. Buzun enjoys a moment with her Salesian friends. |
Frances suffered through the illness and death of her husband, Louis, a victim of cancer. It was her charitable works that gave her the strength to carry on and this strength came from her Salesian Family.
For many years she prepared a banquet for 50 of the major benefactors of these Salesian works with the help of her brother Joe and his wife, Bernice and her nieces.
After her mother died channeled her grief into helping the San Francisco Province's mission in Sierra Leone by underwriting the cost of a welding unit. During all this she suffered a recurrence of the cancer that had led to her mastectomy. This was her final battle.
In her will she left $25,000.00 that will be used to begin a seminary Scholarship fund to be named after her. St. Joseph's Youth Center is also our Salesian Seminary where novices are initiated on the road to Youth Ministry. If you would like to join in keeping alive the memory of Frances Buzun and wish to contribute to this fund, please contact:
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Please pray for our wonderful, generous benefactors and those who will follow in their footsteps.
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