On July 8th I attended a funeral for one of my oldest friends. I dreaded the final goodbye and was trying to think of ways to avoid it. But, my heart knew what was right and I am so glad I went.
My friend Frank was one of the nicest people I ever knew. He was so generous and giving and so many times I had wished he was my father (though he was only 14 years older). I met him and his family when I was 14 and I became the babysitter for their 2 small kids. His daughter Michelle has been my friend since the day we met when she was only 8 months old.
The church was packed for Frank’s funeral. His son Mike and son in law Dave gave the eulogies. Let’s just say there were many chuckles and a few tears shed over the touching stories of this man’s life. There were tales of his crazy antics and his charitable nature. I cried tears of joy through the whole service.
This funeral was a celebration of Frank’s life and a tribute to a man who made us laugh and touched us with his kindness.
I wrote this the night before his funeral—for myself but I would like to share now.
Words about Frank
There will be many tributes today. People will have stories to share and almost all of them will include a joke or laughter. That was Frank. He saw everything as an opportunity to make someone laugh. He would walk into doors or tell a tale that you were sure had to be true. He could go to a restaurant and pretend to be deaf and sign to a friend his order. Or he could convince you Alex Trebeck lived across the street or the Memorial Day parade was actually in honor of his youngest daughter Jen.
He was always in Wegmans with a shopping list for the 3 women he picked up groceries for and always seemed to be on the run.
You could see him around town in the little brown vehicle delivering flowers or out on the golf course hoping to hit that par for the day. He was the neat freak and the note writer. He gave generously to all he knew and never expected anything in return. He loved to dance and musicians like Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond.
The one thing you knew about Frank Ferraraccio is that he was always smiling. This was rare among prison guards, but Frank kept his sense of wonder and humor to the very end. You never forgot him if you met him.
I have so many jokes and times he fooled me that I cannot even remember them all. I met him when I was 14 and 45 years later he could still make me laugh with his corny jokes. He may have gotten quiet at the end but I bet he still had so many jokes left inside just waiting to burst out of him. Now the angels get to share them with him.
We all have our Frank memories and those of us fortunate enough to know him best have so many it would take years to share them all.
But here is what I know—Frank was a blessing to us all. Frank was a giant among men. Frank was human so he did have his flaws but we could laugh anyways. Frank loved his family more than life and would do anything for any of them. Frank was very religious and shared his faith by including so many in his prayers. Frank was one of a kind. Frank was loved and Frank will be missed terribly.
July 4, 2013—and I smiled as he left us awash with laughter and so many loving memories. Goodbye sweet friend, so long KK you will live forever in my heart.
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