20/09/2026
A much-loved Hull ice cream seller who helped serve generations of families in Pearson Park has died. Frank Pasquale Penna passed away peacefully at home on 2 September, surrounded by his family. Tributes have described him as a familiar face who made countless Hull children happy over the years.
Frank was part of the Penna family’s long ice cream tradition in the city. The family began selling ice cream in Pearson Park in 1969, while their Hull business stretched back more than 130 years. Speaking in 2019, Frank recalled how his grandfather Francesco had built the business using barrows, tricycles and horse-drawn carts across Hull.
Frank has now been reunited with his wife Anne. He leaves children Martina, Juliette, Francesco and Claudia, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and was predeceased by his daughter Lisa. His funeral will take place at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Peter Chanel in Hull on Monday 28 September, followed by interment at Priory Woods Cemetery.
