Obituary of Frank A. Federici

Frank A. “Spat” Federici, 84, of Freehold died peacefully on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township surrounded by his loving family. He was born on April 27, 1924 at Federici’s Restaurant, 14 East Main Street, Freehold and remained a lifelong resident of Freehold. He was a 1941 graduate of Freehold High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. After serving his country he joined the family business. It was then along with his family that they created the original recipe for Federici’s famous pizza. He worked at Federici’s Restaurant his entire life and helped to open Federici’s South Restaurant in Howell in 1984. He was a lifelong communicant of St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church, Freehold. He served as the president of Freehold Pop Warner, manager of Freehold Little League for 11 years and coached St. Rose of Lima basketball. Spat was an avid bowler and was inducted into the Monmouth-Ocean Bowling Hall of Fame in August 1980. He enjoyed owning and watching horseracing and was a member of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 54, Freehold. He regularly took trips to Atlantic City. He most enjoyed spending time with family and friends at his home in Freehold and summering in Manasquan. He also looked forward to relaxing vacations in Aruba. He was predeceased by his father, Frank Federici in 1970, his mother, Ester Cirillo Federici in 1972, his brother, Dante in 1983, and a sister, Margaret Rodi in 1999. Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Patricia Cook Federici; his sons and daughters-in-law, Frank and Mary Lynn, Millstone Township, David and Lauren, Freehold Township, Michael and Nicole, Freehold, and John, Freehold; daughters and sons-in-law, Margie and Patrick Hansen and Lisa and Stephen Cook, all of Freehold Township and Tricia and Gio Webb, Freehold; a sister and brother-in-law, Beatrice and Frank Gibson, Freehold; grandchildren, Scott, Mike and Danny Hansen, Shanna and Matthew Federici, Katie and Dante Webb, Brendon and Kyle Rashley, and Patrick Federici. The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Saturday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold on Monday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St. Rose of Lima School, 51 Lincoln Place, Freehold, NJ 07728, St. Rose of Lima Vincent de Paul Society, 16 McLean Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 or Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, Spring Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 would be appreciated.