Mario De Franco

Mario Captain De Franco (“Big Mo” to his friends), 91, of North Haledon, passed away on September 20, 2023. Mario was born on January 14, 1932 to Carmelo and Frances De Franco. He was the beloved husband of Marilyn (Barnickle) De Franco. Loving father of Mario De Franco and his wife Toni of Totowa, Carol Rizio and her husband Steve of Montville and Claudia Heim and her husband Richard of Montville. Devoted grandfather to Mario, Julia and her husband Danny DiGiorno, Rachel, Steven and Kurt. Dear great grandfather to Genevieve “Gigi”. Dear brother to Lucille Hogan, Frances “Nick” Freund and Joseph De Franco. He was predeceased by his siblings Mary Portelli, Genevieve Cirasa, Anthony De Franco.

Mario was born in Paterson and lived the last 25 years in North Haledon. He worked for the Paterson Police Department for 41 years retiring as a Police Captain becoming the longest tenured officer in Paterson history. He was a Korean war Army veteran and a parishioner of St. Gerard Majella RC Church. He was a member of the Fidelians of America, PBA Local # 1 and the Italian American Heritage Club.

Funeral from the Marrocco Memorial Chapel – 470 Colfax Avenue Clifton on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 9:15 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Gerard Majella RC Church at 10 AM. Interment Laurel Grove Cemetery. Visiting on Monday from 4 – 8 pm.