Obituary of Frank P Petracco

Frank P. Petracco, 72 of Lodi, passed away on June 8, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Paterson to the late Frank and Theresa Petracco and was raised on Summer Street in the Eastside Section of Paterson. Frank graduated from Eastside High School with the Class of 1958. He served in the Army National Guard from 1961-1963 at Fort Dix. Frank's working life started by selling meat and candy at his father's butcher shop called Petracco's at the intersection of Summer Street and Oak Street in Paterson. He then worked for Nabisco Foods in Fair Lawn as a Foreman/Supervisor, Two Guys from Harrison in Totowa as a Sales Person, Roman Frozen Foods in Hackensack as a Sales Supervisor, Zaloom Brothers, at International Nuts and Shellfish supplier in Secaucus as a Manager and worked for Crews-Farrell Vault Company. After that, he opened Park West Cleaners in Woodland Park. After 6 years, he retired from the dry cleaning business and worked security for BIS Security Agency in Woodland Park, where he was often posted at the Jewelry Exchange in Wayne before retiring in 2010. Frank's larger than life personality, combined with his huge smile, commanded attention; he would light up a room wherever he went. His outgoing personality and his ability to make people feel comfortable around him helped endear him to all. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, bowling, playing poker, smoking cigars, drinking Metaza and vacationing in Aruba. A real family man, he loved getting together with his children, grandchildren, extended family, and his faithful dog Samson. One of his loves was making wine with his family. As a family, they would gather at his son Frank's home and make about 900 bottles of wine each year. Because of his illness, he was unable to help make the wine this year, but technology stepped in and he was able to participate through "FaceTime". Frank was the former husband of Tina LaCava (nee Ferraro) of Woodland Park; the much loved father of Lisa Pezzuti and her husband Tom, Frank M. Petracco and his wife Stephanie, and the late Debra Lynn Petracco (1979); the cherished grandfather of Amanda, Ashley and Alexa Pezzuti and Moses, Frankie and Nick Petracco. He was the dear brother of Angela Feldmann and her husband Bob and Barbara Spoto and her husband Dennis. Frank was the loving companion of Marie Rinaldi, step-father of Danny and Lucy, Jerry and Debbie and Joe Rinaldi and step-grandfather of Domenica Monaghan and her husband Pat and son Giancarlo, Danina, Dionna, Jerry and his wife Laura, and Danny Rinaldi. Frank also leaves behind very dear nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9pm at Santangelo Funeral Home, 635 McBride Ave., Woodland Park. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 10am at Santangelo Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa. Guests may arrive at the funeral home at 9am. Memorial donations may be sent to: St. Jude Children's Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 Phone: 800-805-5856 Website: www.stjude.org/donate