Frederick Francis Ferrara

Frederick (Fred) Francis Ferrara, 88, of Syracuse, passed away Sunday at Iroquois Nursing Home. He was born in Syracuse, NY on July 31, 1924, the son of Carmelo and Brigida (Zappala) Ferrara. He was a WWII Army veteran spending his first year at the University of Alabama training for the Air Cadets, but as the war progressed he was reassigned to the European front. Returning after the war, he completed his education at Syracuse University with a Mechanical Engineering degree. He married Jeanette (Lieb) Ferrara on June 16, 1951 and they were married for 61 years. Fred worked for General Electric for almost 40 years as a project manager specializing in radar and sonar and various jobs for the military. One of his best achievements was the Ralph J. Cordiner Award for outstanding technical achievement, a portable radar he designed and built. Fred also designed and built the family home and bought and reconfigured other properties. He taught his grandsons to ride their bikes, took them fishing, watched their games and filmed every aspect of their lives, he always had his movie camera. Fred golfed, walked and rode bikes along the Erie Canal BikeTrail and played tennis into his 80’s. In his later years, he enjoyed having 10 o’clock coffee hour with his wife, Jeanette and friends at Kmart, Tops and Burger King. Fred loved to shop at Real Deals and used his purchases to make people happy, giving his time and money to anyone in need. Frederick was the best son, brother, husband, dad and grandfather. He was predeceased by his wife, Jeanette on January 11, 2013 and brother, Sam Ferrara and sister, Mary Ferrara Bruce. Frederick is survived by his two children, a daughter, Bonnie Hensel (Daniel Austin) and a son, Frederick (Rick) and wife, Barbara (Drexler) Ferrara; grandsons, Jeffrey, Joseph and Christopher Hensel and granddaughter Carmen Ferrara; brothers, Anthony (Tony) and Gloria Ferrara, Rocco (Rocky) and Eileen Ferrara. Special thanks to all the wonderful people at Iroquois Nursing Home for all their care and compassion, especially Bill who was in charge of looking in on him when family was not able to be there and thanks also to Aiti and Nate. Thanks to his brother Rocky Ferrara for all the time he spent helping care for Jeanette and Fred. Thanks to his niece, Colleen Ferrara Lance for her support. Thanks for the selfless time given by his goddaughter, Nancy Ferrara who spent countless hours at his side at the nursing home to make him comfortable. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10:30 am in the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse and 12:10 pm at St. Daniel’s Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Entombment will follow in Assumption Cemetery Mausoleum.

Frederick Francis Ferrara

July 31, 1924 - January 13, 2013