Francesco Ceraulo

Francesco Ceraulo, age 82 of Ringwood, died on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. He had lived in Newark, and North Haledon, before moving to Ringwood in 2005.

Francesco was born in Sicily and emigrated to Lens, France with his family when he was just a teenager. In Lens, he found work as a coal miner, which he knew didn’t offer a very promising future. Fortunately for him, he had a brother-in-law living in Newark during the 1960’s, who encouraged him to come to America. He moved his family to Newark’s North Ward with little more than a heart-full of really big dreams. His brother-in-law helped him get work at Calandra’s Bakery in Newark, where he started at the bottom and worked his way up to become the foreman of their baking operation! He and his wife saved every penny they could and were soon able to open their own bakery, the Mediterranean Bakery, in Bound Brook, NJ. It was a wonderful success story based on hard work, dedication, and sweat which enabled him to retire in his 50’s. But retirement didn’t suit Francesco very well and he opened another bakery with his daughter and son-in-law in Washington, NJ, called Sicilia Italian Bakery. He officially retired in 2005.

Francesco met his wife, Mattia (nee Ricca) when they were both living in France. They have enjoyed over sixty years in a very loving and close marriage. They’ve traveled extensively and loved visiting new places. They’ve been to Spain, Greece, France, Hawaii, and Australia. They also enjoyed taking cruises and have sailed the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Ocean, and many others. They enjoyed going for long drives in the car, eating out, and visiting Atlantic City where they would stroll the boardwalk. They loved being together and Mattia will miss him dearly.

Francesco is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years; Mattia, their three children; Salvatore Amato (Annamaria) of Totowa, Vincenza LoCascio (Sebastiano) of Martinsville, NJ, and Lillian Auteri of Ringwood, nine grandchildren; Francesco LoCascio, Antonino LoCascio, Angelo LoCascio, Michael LoCascio, Mattia Doyle, Anthony Amato, Angelo Auteri, Frank Auteri, and Paula Greggo, and sixteen great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son-in-law, Guiseppe Auteri of Ringwood in 2017.

Friends wishing to make a donation in Francesco’s memory are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.