Anthony Joseph Fernicola
Retired engineer owned the Front Porch Emporium in Keyport
Anthony Joseph Fernicola, 90 years young, passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, Nov. 5, 2019, surrounded by his loved ones.
Anthony Joseph Fernicola was born on Nichols Street, the sixth child to Anthony and Rose Fernicola in the Ironbound section of Newark, N.J., and later grew up in Vailsburg, N.J.
After marrying his wife, Josephine Palma Fucci, and having three of their four children, Donna Maria, Richard Anthony and Anthony John, they moved to the I section of Strathmore in the town of Matawan/Aberdeen and lived there for the next 45 years. While in Strathmore, they had their fourth son, Christopher Anthony.
Anthony served in the United States Navy during peacetime, after the second World War and before Korea, on the U.S.S. Roosevelt in the Mediterranean Sea. He was a proud American who was also a member of the Newark Iron Dukes. Anthony was an avid baseball lover on and off the field. He played for the Navy and later, third base softball for years, into his fifties, with a bunch of great guys on the A's team in Matawan, N.J.
Anthony worked as a boilerman engineer at Mannkraft Corrugated Box Corporation in Newark until he retired in July of 1996. In September 1996 he opened a flag store and gift shop with his wife Josephine and their son Christopher called the Front Porch Emporium. Anthony, Josephine and Christopher ran the business for the next 18 years in the friendly shore town of Keyport, N.J., where they met so many wonderful customers who they still call friends today.
Anthony is survived by his wife, Josephine; his daughter, Donna Foti; sons, Richard and wife Kathy, Anthony and wife Ivette, and Christopher and his partner Antonios Fatoras.
Also surviving are his grandchildren, Vincent Foti and girlfriend Stephanie, Rachel and Robert Foti, Steven and Alice, Jessica, Matthew, Anthony, and Christopher and Antonios' two beagles, Holly and Alice; and many loving nieces and nephews from both sides of the family.
Anthony was the last survivor of his loving brothers and sisters, Frank, Carmella, Joseph, Marie and Violet.
The celebration of Anthony's life will be held today, Friday, Nov. 8, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Rd., Holmdel, N.J. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m., in St. Benedict's R.C. Church, 165 Bethany Rd., Holmdel.
For messages of condolence, please visit Anthony's page of tributes at holmdelfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the , act.alz.org