A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 28 in St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville, for Dr. Francis John Cottone who died Dec. 24 in St. Joseph Skilled Nursing Home at Morris Hall, Lawrenceville. He was 83.

Born in Trenton in 1929, Dr. Cottone was a Lawrenceville resident for most of his life. He served in the United States Naval Reserve on active duty from 1957-1959. He was a graduate of Georgetown University and Georgetown Medical School, Washington, D.C. He completed his internship at D.C. General Hospital and his medical residence in general surgery at the Mayo Clinic. He was admitted to the American Board of Surgery in 1962. He served as clinical associate professor of surgery at Hahnemann University and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He served on the board of directors for numerous organizations, including St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton; Morris Hall Nursing Home, and Martin House Foundation. He was also director of surgery in St. Francis Medical Center from 1990-2001. Prior to his directorship, he was a partner in Fares Surgical Associates, P.A. He was also a member of the editorial staff of “Current Surgery” periodical.

Son of the late Rosario J. and Martha Brood Cottone, father of the late John Paul Cottone, and brother of the late Robert Neil Cottone, Dr. Cottone is survived by his wife Irene Yuhas Cottone; five children: Peter F. of Washington, N.J.; Mary Catherine of Boonsboro, Md.; Elizabeth Ann (Lawrence) Becker of Charlottesville, Va.; Thomas C. (Susanne) of Lawrenceville, and Ellen of Lawrenceville, and four grandchildren.

Burial was in St. Hedwig Cemetery, Ewing.

Memorial donations may be made to The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Fund, One Intrepid Square, West 46th St. and 12th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10036 or The Faith Development Center at St. Ann Parish, 1253 Lawrence Rd., Lawrenceville, N.J. 08648.