Domenic DiFrancesco

Domenic A. DiFrancesco of Demarest, 78, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 15th, 2023 following a battle with lung cancer. Domenic (Domenico) was born in Brooklyn, New York of parents Angelo and Helen (nee Cinotto) DiFrancesco in 1945, the oldest of 4 children (brothers Ed, and the late Paul, and sister, the late Helene). Domenic was raised in the southern region of Brooklyn, worked various jobs as a child in his grandfather’s bakery & then pizzeria (La Maschera on MacDougal St. & Minetta Lane in Manhattan) until graduating Lafayette High School in 1962. Domenic enlisted in the United States Air Force in July of 1964. After basic training in Biloxi, MS, Domenic was stationed overseas in Brindisi, Italy and then served his country in combat time during the Vietnam War as a morse code intercept operator, mostly in Da Nang. Domenic returned home in January of 1968. Nearly a month later, Domenic met Virginia (nee Corhan) and as they say, the rest is history. The two were married in 1972 and settled in Demarest, NJ in 1974 with Virginia’s father Emil. After completing their college degrees including his MBA, the couple became proud parents to two sons, Lance (1980) and Blake (1981) and lived in Demarest for nearly 50 years as active members of the community. Domenic coached his sons in youth sports as part of the Demarest Athletic Association and served for nearly 30 years in various leadership roles on the board of the Demarest Swim Club, receiving the Outstanding Trustee award in 2018 from the NJ Pool Managers Association in recognition of his time and effort. During this time, Domenic had a rewarding career as a banker, fulfilling his love of numbers and his childhood aspirations. After an exciting but exhausting career traveling in the early 1980s, Domenic pursued a more local professional path, preferring to stay closer to his family. He enjoyed working at the bank in Haworth, Closter, Dumont, and Tenafly, creating friendships and relationships with customers, neighbors, and colleagues that lasted decades. Domenic was passionate about books, sports – especially those of his children and grandchildren, food and family. Domenic will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He was kind and patient man, a great teacher, a doting husband, a supportive and understanding father, uncle and grandfather, as well as a master pinochle player and proud cook. He is survived by the love his life, Virginia, his sons Lance and Blake, along with their respective wives Jacquelyn and Callie, as well as three adoring grandchildren: Christian, William, and Julianne; brother Ed and sisters-in-law Carolyn, Laurie and Carol; brother-in-law William and sister-in-law Lilli; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Domenic’s work ethic, stoicism, and nurturing personality are highlights of his legacy. Visitation will be Tuesday, 12/19 from 4-8 PM at the Barrett-Leber Funeral Home, 148 Dean Drive, Tenafly. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 11 AM at St Cecilia R.C. Church in Englewood. Interment will be at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Domenic’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.

Domenic DiFrancesco

December 15, 2023