Fred Joseph Franzese, beloved son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and cousin, passed away surrounded by family on Monday, Dec. 9, at Orange Regional Medical Center in the Town of Wallkill after a long illness. He was 64.
Freddie was born Feb. 5, 1955, at Unity Hospital in Brooklyn to Laura and Fred Franzese of Ozone Park. Fred was raised in Queens and spent most of his life there, until moving to Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, in 2000 and then Schervier Pavilion in Warwick in 2018 to be closer to his brother Michael and wife Lenore.
He is survived by his brother Michael Franzese and wife Lenore of Warwick; nephew Michael A. Franzese and wife Jenna of Salem, Mass.; his sister Marie Franzese and niece Tina Maravelis of West Haven, Conn.; nephew Frank Maravelis and wife Dawn and great nephews Nicholas and Christian “CJ” Maravelis of Glendale; sister Laura Mitchnick and husband Bruce of Howard Beach; great nephew Alexander Linn and his dad Wayne Linn and fiancée Maureen Gormley of Montville, N.J. He is also survived by his former sister-in-law Alice Lerro O’Connor and her husband Dennis of Denville; as well as extended family and many cousins.
Fred is predeceased by his niece Venessa Franzese-Linn, formerly of Warwick and Vernon, N.J.; by his parents Laura Pace and Fred Franzese; maternal grandparents Mary and Joseph Pace; paternal grandparents Michael and Mary Franzese; and stepmother Peggy Pastore Franzese.
Fred loved people and conversing and sharing his vast knowledge of life. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh. He lov,ed music and in his younger days, played the saxophone. He enjoyed listening to Elvis Presley, Barbara Mandrell and Billie Holiday.
His family will be eternally grateful for the wonderful care he received at Schervier Pavilion, St. Anthony Community Hospital and Orange Regional Medical Center. He was blessed and fortunate to have such dedicated health care professionals, and staff taking care of him in his final months. They were his angels on earth.
In addition, special thanks to Father John, who visited Freddie, on many occasions, at Schervier, St. Anthony’s and Orange Regional. His presence and prayers gave Freddie, and his family, the peace and comfort needed.
Viewing will be on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will be a Funeral Mass held at Mt. Alverno Center, 20 Grand Street, Warwick, at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019.
Following the mass, Fred will be laid to rest with his parents in St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village.
Arrangements were made by Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Avve., Warwick, NY. To send an online condolence, visit www.lsvpmemorialhome.com.