Family/Spouse: Kay. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cosmo J. Fratello, 89, of the Town of Niagara, NY, passed away on August 29, 2015 at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, NY. Born in Niagara Falls, NY, he was the loving son of the late Joseph and Margaret (Gaeta) Fratello.

Corky, as he’s known to his family and friends, attended local schools and graduated from the former St. Mary’s High School in 1944. Following high school, Cosmo served in the United States Army-Air Corps until his honorable discharge on June 30, 1946. On November 13, 1948 he married Josephine “Jo” L. (Steinbach) Fratello at St. Joseph’s Church in Niagara Falls, who predeceased him on February 16, 2011. Cosmo received his Bachelor’s Degree, as well as his Master’s Degree in Vocational Technical Education from Buffalo State College.

Cosmo was employed as a professor and the head of the Ophthalmic Dispensing Curriculum at Erie Community College in Buffalo, NY. As a New York State Licensed Ophthalmic Dispenser and Contact Lens practitioner, Cosmo was a dispenser for several companies throughout Western New York. He was also the co-author of the Dictionary of Ophthalmic Optics which he published along with Arthur H. Keeney and Robert E. Hagman in 1995. In recognition for all of his achievements and success throughout his years of teaching and business, Corky was presented the Joseph Bruneni Memorial Education Achievement Award, formerly the “Educator of the Year Award,” in 2007 in Las Vegas, NV.

Cosmo was a devout Catholic and longtime member of St. Vincent DePaul Parish at St. Leo’s Church in Niagara Falls, where he served as an extraordinary minister and lector. He was a member of several ophthalmic organizations including the NYS Society of Optician, Contact Lens Society of NYS and the NYS Board for Ophthalmic Dispensing, where he served two five year terms as president. He also served on the NYS Board of Ophthalmic Licensing committee for 10 years as an auxiliary consultant who participated in the semi-annual exams for opticians and was an extended board member who oversaw disciplinary issues throughout the profession. Cosmo was also a longtime member of the Niagara County Sportsman Club, the LaSalle Sportsman Club, patron of the NRA and was a former president and member of the Town of Niagara Lions Club. He also belonged to the HAM Radio Club and was an amateur radio operator of KD2BBY. Corky also served on the Town of Niagara Zoning Board of Appeals for several years.

Mr. Fratello is survived by his five children Joseph (Kay) Fratello of Owenton KY, Susan (Paul) McCoy of East Lake, Ohio, Alfred (Kathryn) Fratello of Niagara Falls, NY, David (Lynn) Fratello of Owenton KY, Mary (Joel) Milleville of Niagara Falls, NY; eight grandchildren, Nicholas Fratello, Holly Jo (Will) Hill, Hannah McCoy, Michelle (Nick) Abel, Lou Fratello, Julie (Keith) Eberly, Matthew Milleville, Rebecca Milleville; four step-grandchildren Paul McCoy, John McCoy, Stephen (Lisa) Przepiora and Peter Przepiora; and 26 great grandchildren. Cosmo is also survived by one sister, Joan Fratello, sister-in-law, Linda Fratello, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by two siblings, Anna Maria (late Gene) Bellegia and Anthony Fratello.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 1st from 5 - 8 P.M., in St. Vincent DePaul Parish at St. Leo’s Church, 2748 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. Interment with Military Honors in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston, NY. Memorials may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Parish at St. Leo's Church.

Cosmo married STEINBACH, Josephine L on 13 Nov 1948 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. Josephine (daughter of STEINBACH, Alfred and ULI, Desoline C) was born about 1927 in Clymer, Tioga County, PA; died on 16 Feb 2011 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette

LOCKPORT — Josephine “Jo” L. (Steinbach) Fratello, 84, of the Town of Niagara, died on February 16, 2011 at Niagara Hospice House in Lockport, NY. Born in Clymer, PA, she was the daughter of the late Alfred Steinbach and Desoline “Sue” (Stella) Uli and step- daughter of the late Joseph Uli.

Jo attended school in Pennsylvania and graduated from Aliquippa High School in 1944. In 1945 she moved to the Niagara Falls area where she lived until the present time. On November 13, 1948, she married Cosmo J. “Corky” Fratello at St. Joseph Church in Niagara Falls, NY. Jo was employed at the former Kimberly Clark Corp. and during the 1970’s and 1980’s, she worked as a receptionist at her family’s owned business, C. Fratello Opticians, Inc., both in Niagara Falls, NY. Josephine was an active member of the Town of Niagara Lioness Club. In her leisure time, she enjoyed completing crossword puzzles and was a voracious reader of Louis L’Amour Western Novels. Jo also took great pleasure in sewing when her children were younger.

In addition to her husband, Josephine is survived by five children, Joseph (Kay) Fratello of Pulaski, NY, Susan (Paul) McCoy of East Lake, OH, Alfred (Kathryn) Fratello of Niagara Falls, NY, David (Lynn) Fratello of Hastings, NY and Mary (Joel) Milleville of Niagara Falls, NY; eight grandchildren, Nicholas Fratello, Holly Jo and Hannah McCoy, Michelle (Nick) Abel, Lou (Shana) Fratello, Julie (Keith) Eberly, Matthew and Rebecca Milleville; four step-grandchildren, Paul and John McCoy, Stephen (Lisa) Przepiora and Peter Przepiora; two great-grandchildren, Allana Abel and David Fratello; 16 step-great-grandchildren; one sister, Dorothy (late Frank) Bruno of Hallandale, FL; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 3–8 PM at the M.J.COLUCCI & SON NIAGARA FUNERAL CHAPEL, 2730 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 19th at 10:00 AM in St. Vincent DePaul Parish at St. Leo’s Church, 2748 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY, with Rev. Robert Stolinski officiating. EVERYONE PLEASE ASSEMBLE AT CHURCH. Interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Drive, Lockport, NY 14094.

Visit www.mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com for online guest register.

Joseph + GAETA, Margaret. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Alfred + ULI, Desoline C. Desoline was born on 6 Mar 1906; died on 14 May 1994 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]