Fortunato "Fred" T. Defranco

Fortunato “Fred” T. Defranco, 97, a resident of Pinecrest Manor and formerly of 207 Grandview Road, St. Marys, passed away Friday, October 15, 2021, at Pinecrest Manor.

He was born March 7, 1924, in Johnsonburg, son of the late Antonio and Pasquelina Albanese Defranco.  Fred was a graduate of Johnsonburg High School, Class of 1941.  After graduation, he served in the United States Army during World War II in the European Theatre and North Africa.  He lived most of his life in St. Marys and was a retired employee of the Stackpole Carbon Company, retiring after 37 years of service.

On June 28, 1947, in the St. Mary’s Church, Fred married Monica G. Bauer, who preceded him in death on November 2, 2012.

He is survived by his daughters: Chris Ortiz of Latham, NY, and Lorraine Garbic of St. Marys; his son, Anthony M. Defranco of St. Marys; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Cherre Defranco.

In addition to his wife and parents, Fred was preceded in death by his son, David Defranco in 2011; his daughter-in-law, Rita Defranco; his son-in-law, Gail Garbic; four sisters: Nicolena Marks, Rose Guidice, Angelina Petro, and Josephine Quattrone; and by his two brothers, Rocco “Roy” and Ralph Defranco.  He was the last member of his immediate family.

After retiring from Stackpole, Fred was a sought after handyman, mostly electronics as that was his specialty.  He enjoyed horseshoes and bowling in the leagues.  Fred was a little notorious for keeping the spaghetti dinners going long after his spouse had passed away, turning his home into a meeting place for family every Sunday.  Family was everything to him.

He was a member of the Queen of the World Church and a member of the American Legion.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Queen of the World Church on Monday, October 18, 2021, at 12:00 PM, with the Rev. Jeffery Noble, Pastor, officiating.  Full military rites will be accorded by the St. Marys Servicemen’s Burial Detail.  Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation is at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Monday morning, from 10:00 until 11:30 AM.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to Penn Highlands Community Nurses, 757 Johnsonburg Road, Suite 200, St. Marys, PA  15857.