Rocco Thomas “Rocky” Ferante, a WWII Navy veteran, avid fisherman, and dedicated family man, died Monday, August 3, 2009 at the age of 95. Born in Portland, ME in 1914, he was the eldest son of Thomas and Santa (DePietro) Ferrante who immigrated from Lettomanoppello, Abruzzo, Italy.
Rocky enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was deployed to the Mediterranean aboard the USS MacKenzie (DD-614). It was during his time in the service that he met his wife of 58 years, the late Army First Lieutenant Jean (Hansen) Ferante.
A longtime resident of Stoughton, MA, Rocky had a long career in window display as well as being a licensed real estate broker. He was a member of Orient Lodge, A.F.& A.M. in Norwood, MA, the Neponset Valley Chapter, The United Commandery No. 21 and The Hyde Park Council.
He had a passion for fishing and could often be found on the banks of the Cape Cod Canal or on his boat. Striped bass and salmon fishing were his favorites, making him a “regular” at the Red Top Bait Shop in Buzzards Bay. He contributed his best stories to The Fisherman. He was a lifelong Red Sox fan who passed on stories to his grandchildren of games he attended at Fenway when Ted Williams played. The tales of his navy career also live on with his family and former shipmates.
He is survived by his daughters, Susan Durden of Brockton and Cheryle Newton Ferante of Glastonbury, CT; four grandchildren, Nicole Durden and Michael Durden of Brockton, MA, Nicholas Kalogeros and Christopher (Buck) McGrane of Glastonbury, CT and one great granddaughter, Hailey Capuzzo of Avon, his sister, Ann DiPrimio of Arlington, and his brother and sister-in-law Rudy and Eleanor Ferrante of Scarborough, ME, his brother-in-law, Robert Hansen of Norwood, and many nieces and nephews. He was also brother to the late Ida Tucci.
Funeral Prayers will be offered from the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rt.27) Stoughton on Friday, August 7 at 10 AM. Visiting Hours Thursday 5-8 PM. Burial will take place at VA National Cemetery, Bourne at 11:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Buckingham Estates Memory Care Center, 1824 Manchester Road, Glastonbury, CT 06033.
The family would like to thank the dedicated staff of Buckingham Estates, North Central Hospice and Palliative Care, and the Hartford Hospital Palliative Care Unit for their guidance, care and support.