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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held at 9:00 AM on Friday, May 22, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Florence “Boots” Ferrito, age 93, of Wayne, died peacefully on Monday, May 18, 2015.
Born and raised in Paterson, as a young lady, Florence originally worked as a sales clerk for Quackenbush Department Store in Paterson. She later worked for many years as a book buyer for Meyer Brothers, Paterson. An avid reader, it was the perfect job because publishers gave her all the books to read for free, in hopes that she would find them worthy to sell in the store’s book department. Unfortunately, when the company moved the store to Wayne in the early 1970’s, the book department was discontinued. Consequently, Florence went on to become a sales clerk with J.C. Penny in Wayne where she finished out her career, retiring in 1993.
A musically talented and popular singer, one day while singing and leading the soprano section as a member of the choir as St. Michael’s Parish in Paterson, a beautiful white orchid was delivered to her. When she inquired as to whom the giver of the flower was, she learned that it was given by a young gentleman named Emmanuel Ferrito, an usher in the church. Emmanuel had two tickets to the opera and so he asked Florence to join him. She declined his offer only to see him a few days later at the train station on his way to the opera with another date. Florence suddenly took a greater interest in Emmanuel. They eventually fell in love, marrying on Saturday, November 26, 1949 at St. Michael’s Church. Their first home together was in Paterson and it was there that they welcomed a baby boy and later a baby girl. In September, 1974, they moved to Wayne where Florence remained to the present.
As a young couple, Florence and Emmanuel enjoyed joining friends for a night of dancing at one of the local dance halls, even dancing a couple of times at the world-famous Copacabana dance club in New York City. They were talented dancers who were honored with the title of “King and the Queen of the Tango” by their friends. As young parents, the family enjoyed getting away to the Jersey Shore or to the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area of Harriman State Park in Bear Mountain, NY. In their later years, Florence and Emmanuel especially enjoyed spending a night seeing a Broadway show.
A loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Florence was a gracious party host, especially noted for her Sunday and holiday family dinners. A meticulous housekeeper, her home was a show piece. Florence followed fashion closely and was always smartly dressed and coiffured. As a young mother, she was active in the PTA’s of St. Michael’s and St. Gerard Schools in Paterson and De Paul Catholic High School in Wayne. More recently, as a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Parish Community in Wayne, Florence was active in the church’s annual festival as well as other church functions.
Florence was the loving wife of Emmanuel; devoted mother of Michael and wife Suzanne Ferrito of Oak Ridge, and Oresta Ferrito of Wayne; grandmother of Brian and wife Marie Ferrito, Mark Ferrito, and Patricia and husband Jason Utter; and great-grandmother of Dylan and Sam. She is also survived by nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents Pasquale and Oresta and her four sisters: Mary Foulds, Helen Casale, Frances Bagli, and Teresa Lasaracino.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Florence’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142, www.stjude.org
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held at 9:00 AM on Friday, May 22, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held at 9:00 AM on Friday, May 22, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Florence “Boots” Ferrito, age 93, of Wayne, died peacefully on Monday, May 18, 2015.
Born and raised in Paterson, as a young lady, Florence originally worked as a sales clerk for Quackenbush Department Store in Paterson. She later worked for many years as a book buyer for Meyer Brothers, Paterson. An avid reader, it was the perfect job because publishers gave her all the books to read for free, in hopes that she would find them worthy to sell in the store’s book department. Unfortunately, when the company moved the store to Wayne in the early 1970’s, the book department was discontinued. Consequently, Florence went on to become a sales clerk with J.C. Penny in Wayne where she finished out her career, retiring in 1993.
A musically talented and popular singer, one day while singing and leading the soprano section as a member of the choir as St. Michael’s Parish in Paterson, a beautiful white orchid was delivered to her. When she inquired as to whom the giver of the flower was, she learned that it was given by a young gentleman named Emmanuel Ferrito, an usher in the church. Emmanuel had two tickets to the opera and so he asked Florence to join him. She declined his offer only to see him a few days later at the train station on his way to the opera with another date. Florence suddenly took a greater interest in Emmanuel. They eventually fell in love, marrying on Saturday, November 26, 1949 at St. Michael’s Church. Their first home together was in Paterson and it was there that they welcomed a baby boy and later a baby girl. In September, 1974, they moved to Wayne where Florence remained to the present.
As a young couple, Florence and Emmanuel enjoyed joining friends for a night of dancing at one of the local dance halls, even dancing a couple of times at the world-famous Copacabana dance club in New York City. They were talented dancers who were honored with the title of “King and the Queen of the Tango” by their friends. As young parents, the family enjoyed getting away to the Jersey Shore or to the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area of Harriman State Park in Bear Mountain, NY. In their later years, Florence and Emmanuel especially enjoyed spending a night seeing a Broadway show.
A loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Florence was a gracious party host, especially noted for her Sunday and holiday family dinners. A meticulous housekeeper, her home was a show piece. Florence followed fashion closely and was always smartly dressed and coiffured. As a young mother, she was active in the PTA’s of St. Michael’s and St. Gerard Schools in Paterson and De Paul Catholic High School in Wayne. More recently, as a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Parish Community in Wayne, Florence was active in the church’s annual festival as well as other church functions.
Florence was the loving wife of Emmanuel; devoted mother of Michael and wife Suzanne Ferrito of Oak Ridge, and Oresta Ferrito of Wayne; grandmother of Brian and wife Marie Ferrito, Mark Ferrito, and Patricia and husband Jason Utter; and great-grandmother of Dylan and Sam. She is also survived by nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents Pasquale and Oresta and her four sisters: Mary Foulds, Helen Casale, Frances Bagli, and Teresa Lasaracino.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Florence’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142, www.stjude.org
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