A staunch Anglican herself at the age of 26, she married the then Roman Catholic Italian exile poet Gabriele Rossetti in London, who also was active in the Italian Church of London. After Gabriele died she quickly burned the remaining copies of his book Il Mistero dell' Amor Platonico del Medio Evo.
They had four children:
Maria Francesca Rossetti (b.1827)
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (b. 1828)
William Michael Rossetti (b.1829)
Christina Georgina Rossetti (b. 1830).
The couple devoted themselves to the education of their children. While the boys were sent to boarding school, the education of the Rossetti girls was taken up enthusiastically by their mother. Frances, whose native language was English, was also an accomplished speaker of both French and Italian. She played a fundamental role in this educational enterprise. The learning environment developed by the couple had uncommon effects on the cultural growth of their four children. In just a short time, they overcame their mother and teacher. However, Frances continued to play an active role in the lives of her daughters.