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February 15, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, February 19th ,2014 from 3-5 & 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 20th , 2014 at 9:30 AM from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.
Kenneth F. Freese, age 79 of Wayne, died peacefully at home, early in the morning of Saturday, February 15th , 2014.
Ken was born in Passaic, the first-born of Frank and Katherine’s two children. He and his younger sister Lorraine “Lori” were raised in Passaic where Ken attended Passaic High School. In his junior year, in Miss Bunnel’s history class, he sat right behind a young lady named Lillian Riotto. Lillian was struck by Ken’s good looks, so she used every excuse from borrowing a pen to looking at Ken’s notes, just to turn around and talk with him. After class, Ken typically had baseball practice at Passaic Stadium on River Road. Since Lillian lived only a couple of blocks from the stadium on Park Ave., she walked with him on his way to the ball field. Quiet Ken eventually asked Lillian out and their first date was to the Capital Theater on Main Ave. Lillian doesn’t remember what movie they saw but she knows that Ken kissed her on that first date and she didn’t mind!
Following graduation from Passaic High in 1952, Ken attended trade school while playing first base for the Passaic Semi-Pro League’s DeMuro Comets. He and Lillian continued dating and, although Ken enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1954, he took just enough time to come home on leave so that he and Lillian could get married! They exchanged their marriage vows on Sunday, November 14th ,1954 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church in Passaic with Father Savatini Vitalis officiating. After a whirlwind one night honeymoon in New York City, the newlyweds packed their car and headed south to Cherry Point North Carolina where Ken was stationed. Meanwhile Lillian took residence in a nearby home off base. In all, Ken proudly served his country for three years as a Marine, from 1954 through 1957. While in the Corps, Ken was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
In 1956, he and Lillian became the proud parents of a baby girl which they named Linda. After the service, Ken, Lillian and Linda moved back to NJ, living briefly back in Passaic before moving to Wayne in 1959. In 1960, Ken became a father again. This time it was a boy and he and Lil named him Kenneth C. In 1965 they welcomed their third child – another boy which they named Richard. Ken and Lillian raised all of their children in that home in Wayne; if fact, it turned out to be Ken’s home for the rest of his life -55 years in all!
Ken had a career that spanned 35 years as a chemical operator with Hoffmann La-Roche in Nutley. He enjoyed his work and the camaraderie of his coworkers.
Ken enjoyed cheering for the New York Mets , and going to Long Beach Island for summer vacation.
Ken adored his two grandchildren Lauren and Joseph .
When Ken and Lillian reached retirement, they hit the road, visiting all 50 states , including a trip to Italy. Then in 1995, Ken and Lillian purchased a second home in Jupiter, FL. They headed south every year from September to November, coming back to Jersey for the holidays before returning in January and staying until May. In Jupiter, they loved the pool and the beach and the many friends they made there over the years. Of course they also loved escaping the cold harsh winters in New Jersey!
Ken will be remembered as a quiet man who loved his wife, children and grandchildren, as well as the friends he made along life’s path. He got a great kick out of traveling – as long as his dear wife Lillian made all the arrangements. Ironically, he was just as content to be home . His family is thankful for his life and his faith!
Surviving are his beloved wife of 59 years, Lillian (nee Riotto); his daughter and two sons: Linda and husband Joseph Corrao of Wayne, Kenneth C. and wife Denise Freese of Secaucus, and Richard and wife Elisa Freese of Wayne; two adored grandchildren: Lauren and Joseph; his dear sister Lorraine “Lori” Collins of Port St. Lucie, FL. And Brother in - law Charles Riotto and nieces and nephews .
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 Wednesday, February 19th ,2014 from 3-5 & 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 20th , 2014 at 9:30 AM from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.
February 15, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, February 19th ,2014 from 3-5 & 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 20th , 2014 at 9:30 AM from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.
Kenneth F. Freese, age 79 of Wayne, died peacefully at home, early in the morning of Saturday, February 15th , 2014.
Ken was born in Passaic, the first-born of Frank and Katherine’s two children. He and his younger sister Lorraine “Lori” were raised in Passaic where Ken attended Passaic High School. In his junior year, in Miss Bunnel’s history class, he sat right behind a young lady named Lillian Riotto. Lillian was struck by Ken’s good looks, so she used every excuse from borrowing a pen to looking at Ken’s notes, just to turn around and talk with him. After class, Ken typically had baseball practice at Passaic Stadium on River Road. Since Lillian lived only a couple of blocks from the stadium on Park Ave., she walked with him on his way to the ball field. Quiet Ken eventually asked Lillian out and their first date was to the Capital Theater on Main Ave. Lillian doesn’t remember what movie they saw but she knows that Ken kissed her on that first date and she didn’t mind!
Following graduation from Passaic High in 1952, Ken attended trade school while playing first base for the Passaic Semi-Pro League’s DeMuro Comets. He and Lillian continued dating and, although Ken enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1954, he took just enough time to come home on leave so that he and Lillian could get married! They exchanged their marriage vows on Sunday, November 14th ,1954 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church in Passaic with Father Savatini Vitalis officiating. After a whirlwind one night honeymoon in New York City, the newlyweds packed their car and headed south to Cherry Point North Carolina where Ken was stationed. Meanwhile Lillian took residence in a nearby home off base. In all, Ken proudly served his country for three years as a Marine, from 1954 through 1957. While in the Corps, Ken was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
In 1956, he and Lillian became the proud parents of a baby girl which they named Linda. After the service, Ken, Lillian and Linda moved back to NJ, living briefly back in Passaic before moving to Wayne in 1959. In 1960, Ken became a father again. This time it was a boy and he and Lil named him Kenneth C. In 1965 they welcomed their third child – another boy which they named Richard. Ken and Lillian raised all of their children in that home in Wayne; if fact, it turned out to be Ken’s home for the rest of his life -55 years in all!
Ken had a career that spanned 35 years as a chemical operator with Hoffmann La-Roche in Nutley. He enjoyed his work and the camaraderie of his coworkers.
Ken enjoyed cheering for the New York Mets , and going to Long Beach Island for summer vacation.
Ken adored his two grandchildren Lauren and Joseph .
When Ken and Lillian reached retirement, they hit the road, visiting all 50 states , including a trip to Italy. Then in 1995, Ken and Lillian purchased a second home in Jupiter, FL. They headed south every year from September to November, coming back to Jersey for the holidays before returning in January and staying until May. In Jupiter, they loved the pool and the beach and the many friends they made there over the years. Of course they also loved escaping the cold harsh winters in New Jersey!
Ken will be remembered as a quiet man who loved his wife, children and grandchildren, as well as the friends he made along life’s path. He got a great kick out of traveling – as long as his dear wife Lillian made all the arrangements. Ironically, he was just as content to be home . His family is thankful for his life and his faith!
Surviving are his beloved wife of 59 years, Lillian (nee Riotto); his daughter and two sons: Linda and husband Joseph Corrao of Wayne, Kenneth C. and wife Denise Freese of Secaucus, and Richard and wife Elisa Freese of Wayne; two adored grandchildren: Lauren and Joseph; his dear sister Lorraine “Lori” Collins of Port St. Lucie, FL. And Brother in - law Charles Riotto and nieces and nephews .
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