Obituary: Frank Ciccone, II
Thursday, December 06, 2018
Frank Ciccone, II passed December 4, 2018, will be remembered as the day that a great family man, friend and holy man who left this world to join his wife, son, brothers and sisters and his predeceased friends.
May 1, 1919, Frank was born into the family of Francesco and Filomena Ciccone. A family that consisted of four brothers and four sisters.
Prior to World War II, Frank worked as a mechanic in the Silver Lake area of Providence, where he met his future wife. On March 25, 1941, Frank joined the United States Army and was shipped out on the USS Coolidge to serve in the Pacific.
Prior to beginning combat duty, the USS Coolidge sank and he was transferred to another ship heading to Guadalcanal. He was a forward observer unit as a radio operator attached to the 172nd Infantry Combat Team. He saw combat in Munda, Rendova Island and Arundel in the Georgia Island group. His next duty was Aitape in New Guinea preparing for the invasion of the Philippines. He landed in Luzon and went to Rosario. He received several medals for his service.
Upon return from the World War II, Frank resumed work as a mechanic in the Silver Lake section of Providence and enrolled to take Drafting and Architectural Graphic Standards classes at Rhode Island School of Design.
Frank and his brother Tom joined to create a construction company that built homes in Dean Estates, Larchmont Road area of Warwick and East Greenwich. One of their last projects was the motel at the junction of Route 95 and Route 3 in Coventry. Frank was not done working yet, he became the Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds at Rhode Island Hospital a position he relished until his retirement.
After Frank retired he would join longtime friends at the Saint Mary’s Feast Society for daily card games.
He also traveled with his wife and friends to Foxwoods and Mohegan Casinos. With age came problems with his knees and walking, but that did not stop him he utilized a walker for mobility around his home certain venues. Frank then acquired an electric wheelchair that allowed him access on good days to his bank and around the neighborhood. It also allowed him to use transit services to frequent Twin Rivers Casino.
Frank was a lifetime communicant of Saint Bartholomew Church, a member of the Saint Mary’s Feast Society and the Rosario Society.
Frank was predeceased by his wife Elmira Ciccone (Manfredi), son Robert T. Ciccone, brothers Quirino, Joseph, Ralph and Thomas, sisters Mary Zelano, Teresa Apice, Eda Tasca and Livia DelPonte. He is survived by his son Senator Frank A. Ciccone III, loving daughter in law Elena, granddaughter Carla and husband John Rose. He will be sadly missed by his two Rottweilers Rocco and Josie.
His funeral and visitation will be held Friday from 8:30 a.m.m- 9:45 a.m. from “WOODLAWN” Funeral Home 600 Pontiac Avenue Cranston with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. Bartholomew Church, Laurel Hill Avenue, Providence. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Italian-American War Veterans c/o Angelo Lauro 59 Maplehurst Avenue, Providence, RI 02908. Please share memories and condolences at WoodlawnGattone.com
