Frances Patricia Bucci, retired police officer, educator
Frances Patricia Bucci, 80, of Lewes, passed away Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Atlantic Shores in Millsboro. She was born Sept. 6, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pa., daughter of the late Joseph and Frances (Hewska) Davidoff.
Frances enjoyed a lengthy career in civil service starting with the City of Philadelphia, where she worked as a clerk typist with Philadelphia Fire Department, then as an officer with the Juvenile Aid Division, a secretary for the chief inspector of the Homicide Unit, and a police sergeant. Frances was a groundbreaker; she was one of 100 women to be admitted to the Philadelphia Police Academy during the historic class of 1976 which was the first to allow women to become police officers in the City of Philadelphia.
After retirement from Philadelphia, Frances and her husband Jack relocated to Florida. Frances was not content with retirement and went to work for the Florida Department of Probation & Parole as a probation officer and a probation officer supervisor. She also worked for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement developing training curriculum and teaching numerous courses for various law enforcement agencies in Florida. Frances was a member of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, and Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency.
After two decades in Florida, Frances and Jack relocated to Delaware. She worked briefly as an administrative assistant with Rehoboth Beach Police Department before working with the Delaware Division of Child Support Enforcement, retiring as a supervisor.
Education was important to Frances. She attended Villanova University, Eckerd College, University of South Florida and National Louis University. In addition to her teaching as a law enforcement trainer, she also worked as an adjunct professor teaching criminal justice at Delaware Technical Community College and Catechism classes at St. Jude The Apostle in Lewes.
Frances and her husband, John, loved to travel and would often take cruises to their favorite destinations including the Caribbean and Europe. Her memory will continue to inspire and bring comfort to those who were fortunate enough to know and love her.
In addition to her parents, Frances was preceded in death by her husband John "Jack" Bucci of 38 years. She is survived by her son, Joseph (Mozella).
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 3, at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m.
All who cannot attend in person are invited to join the services via livestream by visiting: parsellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/permalink/11164547/LTWebcast.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Frances’ memory to the Alzheimer's Association, alz.org/delval; or Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, debreastcancer.org.
Visit Frances' Life Memorial webpage and sign her virtual guestbook at parselfuneralhomes.com.
