Her day in the sun

RUMFORD -- A great-great-grandmother has done herself proud to winning the end of the season rolloff for the House Trophy at Oxford Lanes.

Frances DeFilipp, who turns 86 this summer, was competing despite an artificial left hip and a torn right rotator cuff. She bowled a total of 53 pins over her average for a string (three games) in the rolloff on May 2 by her team of 20 years, the Rollin Dozen.

It had already been a terrific season for Frances and her team. She had increased her per game average from 77 to 82 over the year, and the women of the Rolling Dozen won the team championship.

But winning the House Trophy was the furthest thing from her mind. After all, Frances was competing against 23 other bowlers, some with averages around 92 pins per game, or 10 pins better than her average.

She said she had no idea she had won until the surprise presentation of the trophy at the end of season luncheon held at the Bethel Inn.

"I rolled a 116, a 96 and...I can't remember the third," she said, before adding, "Well, it was a good one."

Over the years, Frances has seen a number of trophies that her children and grandchildren have won over the years. Now she has one. She said it was her family who persuaded her to tell her story to the newspaper.

"We all have to have our day in the sun," said Frances.

Frances, who served for 12 years as the librarian for the Mexico Public Library, also was on the school board for a time along with her best friend for most of her life, Betty Barrett, who continues to serve on the RSU 10 Board of Directors. Frances is now a regular with the weekly cribbage events.

Her day in the sun Photo:

Frances DeFilipp, who turns 86 this summer, is pictured with the House Trophy she earned for winning the end of the season rolloff at Oxford Lanes. (Times photo by Bruce Farrin)