Jack "Giacomo" DiFresca, 86, died Thursday, Jan. 6, at the University Medical Center at Princeton.
Born in the Potenza Province of Italy, he and his wife Geraldine immigrated to the United States in 1950 from Belgium, obtaining United States citizenship shortly after. They lived in the Oranges before moving to South Brunswick in 1953. In Monmouth Junction he settled on a 50 acre farm raising crops and oultry.
He was employed by the South Brunswick Board of Education at Cambridge School for 15 years in maintenance before retiring 20 years ago. Prior to that he worked for Frederick H. Levy in Monmouth Junction.
He had a love for gardening, specializing in grapes, figs, tomatoes and flowers. He would host garden tours at his home, teaching children basic horticulture. He was a past member of the South Brunswick Republican Party where he volunteered as an election poll challenger. Mr. DiFresca was also a former member of the Pescopaganesi Society in East Orange and North Brunswick Italian American Club, the Princeton Eagles 2732, Consolata Missions in Somerset and San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch.
His wife, Geraldine, died in 1979.
He is survived by a son, Andrew DiFresca; a daughter, Mary Jane DiFresca; two brothers in Canada; and a sister in Italy.
The funeral was held Wednesday, Jan. 12, at M.J. Murphy Funeral Home, 616 Ridge Road at New Road, Monmouth Junction.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday, Jan. 12, at St. Cecilia’s Church, 10 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction. Burial followed in Holy Cross Burial Park, Cranbury Road, South Brunswick. The wake was held Tuesday, Jan. 11 at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jack DiFresca’s memory to San Alfonso Retreat House, 755 Ocean Ave., Long Branch, N.J. 07740.

