Obituary of Frances "Fifi" Scerra Halicek

Frances “Fifi” Scerra Halicek

September 28, 1933 – June 12, 2023

 

 

Frances “Fifi” Scerra Halicek, 89, of Hackensack and previously of Ridgefield Park passed away peacefully at home on June 12, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.

Born in New York City on September 28, 1933, to the late Giuseppe and Jennie (Tombone) Festa, Fran attended and graduated from Jane Addams Vocational School and the Kree Institute of Electrolysis.  Upon graduation, she was a beautician and electrolysist at the Leisure Beauty Parlor in NYC and married the late Joseph C. Scerra in 1953. Together, they raised three children in Ridgefield Park. Following Joseph’s passing, Fran was employed as a secretary at Jaguar Cars and subsequently at the DPW in Ridgefield Park. While employed at Jaguar, she met and married Frank Halicek in 1985.

A beautiful soul, her warm, compassionate, and loving nature endeared so many. Fran was admired by all for her strong, positive outlook and independent nature. She always enjoyed a good laugh. More than anything else, Fran was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She embodied the traditional Italian love of family and enjoyed preparing her famous meatballs, meat sauce and manicotti for holidays and family vacations on Long Beach Island. She cherished and adored her great-granddaughter, Oakley, who brought her so much pride, joy, and happiness through daily videos and photos in her final days. Late in life, Fran embraced the art of pencil coloring and produced intricate pieces of art, some are signed simply “Mom,” framed, and adorn the walls of her family’s homes.

Fran was preceded in death by her husband Joseph C. Scerra; husband Frank Halicek; grandson, Michael Scerra and great-grandson, Emmett Kopin. A brother, Joseph, and five sisters; Annie, Mary, Josie, Maggie, and Minnie also preceded her in death.

Fran is survived by her three children, Thomas (Mary) Scerra of Dunellen NJ, Joseph Scerra (Jeffrey Seroskie) of Exton PA, and Donna (Steven) Ciesla of Branchville NJ; five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and two sisters, Jennie (Peter) Morisi of Brooklyn NY, and Theresa (David) Fennell of Teaneck NJ and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to visit the Vorhees-Ingwersen Funeral Home, 59 Main Street, Ridgefield Park, NJ on Thursday, June 15, 2023 from 9-11:30am. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, 114 Mount Vernon Street, Ridgefield Park NJ at 12pm. Burial will be in Hackensack Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.