Frances C. Ruocco

Frances Ruocco, 82, of Pompton Plains, formerly of Kinnelon and Totowa, died Monday, March 3, 2025 with her loving family at her side.
Born in Paterson, Fran was the daughter of Frank and Mary Cavalieri. A graduate of Central High School in Paterson, she went on to graduate from Montclair State University, where she studied education and English literature.
Fran was very proud to begin her career as a librarian before transitioning to classroom teaching at Manchester High School in Haledon. There, she started the school newspaper, which led her to be introduced to the love of her life, Richard Ruocco, a local printer who helped print the paper for the school. After just a few dates, Richard proposed on Valentine's Day, and the couple would marry just a few months later.
Settling down in Totowa, the couple lovingly raised three children together: Laura, Dante and Andrea. Fran and Richard later moved to Kinnelon, where they lived for 20 years before retiring to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains 3 years ago.
Throughout their marriage, Fran and Richard loved traveling. They enjoyed annual winter trips to Florida, and enjoyed many trips to Europe, with Florence, Italy and The Cotswolds being her most treasured destinations.
Nowhere was more special to the Ruocco family, though, than their treasured beach home in Long Beach Island. "Summers with Mimi" were a special treat for each and every one of the grandchildren. Long days on the beach, or trips to Bay Village for ice cream, watching the sun go down over the bay, are the times that will always be most dear to the family.
Fran held a lifelong love of literature. She spent much of her time reading. She was quite the social butterfly, and loved to spend time with her many, many friends. Fran was always busy playing mahjong, attending Red Hat luncheons, watching British mysteries, and taking her grandkids to Starbucks where she always had a chai tea latte. Fran proudly held onto every friend she ever made, even way back to those she met in kindergarten, and continued making new friends at Cedar Crest. She will be dearly missed by all who loved her.
Fran is lovingly survived by her husband of 59 years, Richard Ruocco; her children, Laura DeCarlo and her husband Frank, Dante Ruocco and his wife Lisa, and Andrea Honan and her husband Brian; her brother, Joseph Cavalieri; and her grandchildren, Lila Honan, Mae Honan, Leonardo DeCarlo, Dominick Ruocco, and Rosemarie Ruocco.
Visitation will be held Monday, March 10th from 2-5:30 pm at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 5:30 pm at the conclusion of the visitation period. Cremation will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Fran's memory to Alliance for a Living Ocean would be greatly appreciated in Fran's memory. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Frances, please visit our floral store.