Frank Federici Obituary

Frank Federici, of Noblesville, Indiana, passed away on Sunday, March 30, surrounded by his loving family. He was 84. He was born on December 15, 1923, in Elmwood Park, Illinois, to Philip and Ruby Federici. Growing up in Elmwood Park, he graduated from John Mills School and later from Lane Technical High School in 1941. Frank enlisted as an aviation cadet after attending one year at the Illinois Institute of Technology only to become a 1st Lieutenant serving as a B-24 navigator in the 8th Air Force 2nd Air Division 445th Bomb Group in Tibenham, England. He completed 30 missions over Germany during World War II. On November 26, 1944, his bomber was hit over Misburg, Germany, instantly killing the pilot and leaving a gaping hole in the plane. In spite of navigational maps being torn and tangled in the control cables, Frank navigated back to the base from his memory of landmarks. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) as well as several Air Medals. Frank married Ida Berns on April 11, 1944. He was discharged from the Army Air Corps in October 1945 and entered North Western University on the G.I. Bill, where he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Frank worked for twenty-nine years as a designer of heating elements and Manager of Engineering at General Electric. His membership in the Wheaton (IL) Masonic Lodge spanned a period of 50 years and continued after moving to Indiana. Frank and Ida lived in Glen Ellyn, Illinois for forty-five years and raised their three daughters there. Frank is predeceased by his wife Ida, sister Florence Ferraro, sister Adeline Glasneck, and brother John Federici. He is survived by his daughters: Carol Rice (Julian) of Boca Raton, FL, Gloria Wright (Dexter) of Fishers, IN, and Pat Anderson (Scott) of Vernon Hills, IL; his grandchildren Jamie Wright of Fishers, IN, Lindsey Steill (Justin) of Westfield, IN; Noah Rice (Robyn) of Miami, FL; great grandson Cohen Steill; former wife, Virginia Moore Federici of Vernon Hills, IL, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Memorial service at the First United Methodist Church in Glen Ellyn, IL at 12 noon on April 5, 2008. Burial service at Mt. Emblem Cemetery in Elmhurst, Illinois is scheduled at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions to the 2nd Air Division Association c/o Bill Nothstein, 1359 Harwood Lane, Macedon, NY 14502 or the National Kidney Foundation: 30 East 33rd St., NY, NY 10016.