Francis J. Ferrara

Attleboro, Mass. - Francis Joseph Ferrara, 99, passed away early Friday morning, Oct. 3, 2008.

He was born in Attleboro, and, aside from a stint as a technical sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II when he was sent to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, he lived in Attleboro his entire life. Frank was well known in the city for his part in jewelry manufacturing and as the owner of the former Speedway Speedwash. He was several times commander of the American Legion Post 20, organized the Attleboro Post's Boys and Girls State Program for many years and remained active in the Legion as a service officer until the late 1990s. As a public servant, Frank organized the city's parades and Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks for many years and was always easy to find among the Fourth of July crowds in Capron Park during the 1950s and 1960s because of his amazing yellow Hawaiian shirt amidst a sea of white-shirted men. He was active in city politics and served as a fire commissioner under the late Mayor Kai Shang.

After retirement, Frank grew a huge number of tomatoes in his small backyard, which he delivered by the box load to his friends and neighbors.

Frank was a widower. His beloved wife, Thelma Eunice (White) Ferrara, died in 1997.

He leaves behind a son, Robert of Mystic; and three daughters, Libie Alone Leonard of Pawtucket, R.I., and Mary Ferrara and Patricia Ferrara, both of Attleboro. He is also survived by a brother, John of Attleboro; a sister, Elizabeth of Norton, Mass.; five grandchildren, Michael Ferrara, Mark Ferrara, Greg Ferrara, Anastacia Ulrich, and George Leonard III; and at last count, 12 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, in the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck St., Attleboro. A funeral will be conducted at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, from the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden St., Attleboro, celebrated by the Rev. John Raposo and the Rev. Michael Giannitelli. Mr. Ferrara will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife with full military honors in St. John's Cemetery, West St., Attleboro.

Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse Agency of Attleboro, 10 Emory St., Attleboro MA 02703, whose members have been very kind and helpful to Frank in his last months.

An online guest book for family and friends to express condolences and additional information may be found at www.duffy-poule.com.