Shrewsbury – John R. Frongillo, of Shrewsbury, passed away peacefully Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 after a brief illness.
He was born Nov. 7, 1927 in Worcester, and was a graduate of North High School, furthering his education at Assumption College. On May 5, 1951, John married his beloved wife of the next 61 years, Gloria R. D”Errico.
He is survived by Gloria; his children, Cheryl F. Stoychoff of Worcester, John R. Frongillo Jr. and his wife Katrina of Shrewsbury, Cynthia A. Frongillo and her husband David Sneade of Holden, and Paul J. Frongillo of Millbury; and his five grandchildren, Emily R. Frongillo, Holly M. Frongillo, Nicholas A. Frongillo, Matthew C. Stoychoff, and Curtis J. Stoychoff. He also leaves his three sisters, Jennie Tarbell of Jefferson, Rita Kalagher of Worcester, and Evelyn Langley of Framingham, and three brothers, Robert A. Frongillo and his wife Rose of Naples, FL, Henry A. Frongillo Jr., of Shrewsbury, Ronald D. Frongillo and his wife Maureen of Millbury, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry A. and Angela Rose (LePera) Frongillo, as well as his brother, Louis, and sisters Dorothy and Lois.
John served his country as a veteran of the U.S. Navy during WWII, stationed at the Panama Canal. Upon returning home, he joined the family business as a co-owner of H. Frongillo & Sons, Inc. He later worked as a Vice President at W.H. Sawyer Lumber Company and Store Manager for Somerville Lumber and sales rep at Payless Cashways.
John was a Town Meeting member in Shrewsbury for 25 years and a former member of the Shrewsbury School Committee, an active member of Millbury Senior Center, and a Past President of the Westborough Rotary. He is a “Paul Harris.”
He was a member and eucharistic minister at St. Anne's of Shrewsbury, and was actively involved in volunteering for many years with the Veterans” Association.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday, Dec. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m., in the Mercadante Funeral Home and Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. John's funeral will be held Thursday, Dec. 27 from the funeral home, with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Anne's Church, 130 Boston Turnpike Rd. (Route 9), Shrewsbury. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 460 Totten Pond Road #400, Waltham, MA 02451 or the Joslin Diabetes Clinic, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215.
