Obituary of Jean J DeFranco

Jean (Ferrara) DeFranco died peacefully in Belmar Wednesday, November 4, 2020. She was 96. Born in 1924 in Newark to the late Anthony and Nancy (Petraccione) Ferrara, Jean eventually moved to Clark with her loving husband of 52 years, Frank DeFranco, where she raised her two children. She lived in North Brunswick the last 18 years with her daughter and family. "Gram", as she was known, was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her favorite place was being surrounded by her family, where her smile would light up a room. Gram's legacy will live on through her family, whom she spent every summer with at the beach in Belmar. She was often in the kitchen, where she spent many days, cooking for her loved ones and sharing stories. She was a true family woman. Her husband, Frank DeFranco, died in 1999. She was also predeceased by her brother Anthony Ferrara; and her dear cousin Vicky Castellano. Surviving are her daughter Patricia Puleio and her husband Frank of North Brunswick; her son Thomas DeFranco of Jupiter, Florida; three sisters - Flo Cafaro and Ninfa Costa, both of Summit, and Quinta Maglione of Long Branch; four grandchildren – Michael Puleio and his wife Sheila of Hoboken, Christopher Puleio and his wife Alexis of Hoboken, Zachary DeFranco of Vermont and Talia DeFranco of Tacoma, Washington; four great grandchildren – Christopher George Puleio, Vito Oliver Puleio, Madison DeFranco and Norah DeFranco; as well as her many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Sunday at Selover Funeral Home, 555 Georges Road, North Brunswick. Funeral services will be 9:15 AM Monday from Selover Funeral Home followed by a 10:00 AM Mass at St. Mary of Mount Virgin R.C. Church in New Brunswick. Entombment will follow in Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum in East Hanover. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to www.stjude.org.