MEREDITH---Frances Theresa (Troccoli) Governanti, 85, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 9, 2026, while residing at the Goffstown Nursing Home, in Goffstown NH. Born March 24, 1940, in Uniondale, NY, to mother Hellen (Baldi) Troccoli and father Pat Troccoli, she graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, Long Island. She wed the love of her life, Anthony Michael Governanti, on June 3, 1962. Fran, or as her closest friends and family knew her, Bunny, was a loving, dedicated and energetic wife, mother, Nana and friend.

As a successful businesswoman who opened the Alexandria Lamp Shop in c. 1977, Bunny sold much needed kerosene lamps and supplies in an area that frequently lost electricity, operating out of a repurposed Summer Cottage on their home's property in the rural town of Alexandria, NH. In the next several years, she built the business into a thriving antique and collectibles store while raising three energetic boys. In 1980, they moved the shop to their New Hampton, NH home and expanded the business into electrified lighting and turn-of-the-century antiques. She was joined in the business by her husband Tony in c. 1987, when they opened a second shop, the Alexandria Lamp Shop II, in the up-and-coming center of Meredith NH. In 1988, Tony and Bunny built their dream home and moved the family to Meredith as the shop became one of the largest dealers and parts distributors of Aladdin Kerosene Lamps in the Northeast. After several location changes for the business along Meredith's main street, in 2003 they moved it into the garage of a smaller home in Meredith to downsize and prepare for retirement.

Throughout the years, they built a very close relationship with Vince and Louise Elstob. They spent many a summer day at Jones Beach on Long Island in the '50s, had family vacations with all their kids on both sides throughout the '70s and early '80s, and vacationed together as couples in the Caribbean every winter starting in 1987. This is where Bunny discovered a passion for snorkeling and searching for tropical fish of all varieties in the warm, clear, turquoise waters of nine different islands, with Bonaire being a favorite and frequent destination. This tradition grew beyond just an annual trip, with more frequent mini-vacations being taken together across much of the United States, with their final stop being the Grand Canyon (c. 2012).

Bunny's other passions involved animals, particularly a near constant housing of cats, sometimes two or three at a time (Rocco, Jessie, Smokey, Tipsy and Wizzy), and her love for dogs (Guido, Calcite, and Zeke). She loved to garden, and often spent her spring and summer evenings tending to flowers. She maintained a perpetually full set of bird feeders to ensure the local birds (Cardinals were her favorite), the occasional squirrels and even a black bear, were fat and happy all year round!

Through it all, her love and energy came from her family, by both blood and friendship. She loved to tell and listen to stories (mainly because Tony always interrupted anyway) and loved being with her family and friends to share drinks, food and laughs. She and Tony often hosted friends for gatherings, backyard grilling and cocktail parties, sometimes just a few people, and many times quite a lot, would attend. There are too many friends they cherished throughout the years to mention them all (mostly because her kids who are writing this can't remember them all). Just know you are all remembered and were a very important part of Bunny's life.

She loved her grandkids very much, and would be there when needed, to either pick someone up from school for an appointment, to "go back to Nana's for the day," or she would babysit for days on end, no matter their age. These are memories her sons and grandchildren will cherish forever: fun and relaxed times and being at their "second homes" where the door was always open for them.

She loved photography and prized her original Sawyer prints as well as pictures she took herself, throughout the years. She hung many portraits of all of the family and friends she held close, throughout her home, sometimes covering entire walls at a time (jokingly referred to by her kids as the "walls of shame"). Many, many years of memories were captured on film and digital media because Bunny was always ready with the camera to snap a portrait or capture a moment worth cherishing.

After losing Tony to cancer in 2013, Bunny kept the shop open and continued to vacation with Louise wherever they could. She closed the shop in the winter of 2022 after complications from injuries she suffered from a fall. This fall facilitated her move to a nursing and rehab center-a move that was supposed to be short and get her back to her normal routine but turned into a three year battle with the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Predeceased by Pat and Helen Trocolli (Parents), Tony Governanti (Husband), Robert & Janet Trocolli (Brother & Sister-in-law), and Vincent Elstob (lifelong friend). She is survived by her three sons, Bartolo Rhesa, Vincenzo, and Anthony and his wife Elizabeth, grandchildren Talia, Tessa, Domenic and Donovan, her nieces Nancy and Lynn, and her nephew Paul.

Services will be private at the request of the family, but a celebration of life will be scheduled in the early summer of 2026, hosted in Meredith NH. In lieu of flowers or cards, a donation in Fran's name can be made to your local ASPCA or animal shelter, to continue her love of animals, particularly pets who need a loving home.

Mom, you are - and will always be in our hearts. Rest in peace with Dad and know that we love you both very much.