Francesco Angilletta

Francesco (Frank) Angilletta affectionately known as Cioccio, Francino, Pop passed away peacefully on Sunday October 2, 2022, with his loving family beside him. Now he is reunited in heaven with his beautiful bride, Caterina, loving parents, Marianna & Guiseppe; siblings Luigi, Rosina, Carmelina & Teresina along with his precious aunts, uncles, cousins & niece.  Frank is survived by his older sister Maria and youngest brother Guiseppe whom he loved dearly.

Frank was the loving and devoted father & father-in-law of Joseph and wife Jane, MaryAnn and husband John, Nick and former wife Denise. He was the cherished grandfather of Justine, Jillian, JP, Jenna, Christopher, Nikolas, Olivia, Andrew, and Kiera as well as the proud great grandfather of Cole & Zoey.

Frank was born in the small town of Caulonia, in the Italian province of Reggio Calabria on August 23, 1929. He and his brother Guiseppe emigrated to the United States in 1955 and resided in Brooklyn, NY until 2012. Frank spent his career as a waiter at Joe & Rose Restaurant until it closed in 1990. It was here he was given the name, Francino (Little Frank) by his coworkers and customers. Frank had the pleasure of serving many entertainers, judges, CEO’s, politicians and clergy. Most notably was a customer named John F. Kennedy and his favorite customer, Frank Sinatra.

After falling ill in 2012, he came to live with his daughter and family in Mahwah, NJ. Here he formed wonderful friendships and became everyone’s Pop.

Frank’s greatest joy was to be surrounded by his family.  He loved sitting around the kitchen table enjoying conversations with his children, grandchildren, brother, brother and sister-in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He was also a devout Catholic. He attended Regina Pacis Church while in Brooklyn and St. Elizabeth’s Church in Wyckoff.  He developed a special friendship with his “birthday buddy” Father Stephen Fichter. 

The family will receive visitors from 2:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, October 7, 2022, at Vander Plaat Funeral Home; 257 Godwin Avenue; Wyckoff, NJ.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022 – 10:00 am at St. Elizabeth’s Church; 700 Wyckoff Avenue; Wyckoff, NJ. Internment will be at Saint Michaels Cemetery in Elmhurst, NY immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in Frank’s honor.

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