Nicholetta "Nicoletta" M. Franchetta

Nicholetta "Nicoletta" M. Franchetta

(nee Garuffi)

September 1, 1921 – September 30, 2026

Nicholetta, “Nicoletta” “Nickie” M. Franchetta (nee Garuffi) 105 of Vineland, NJ, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026, at Royal Suites Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

Born on September 1, 1921, in Hammonton, NJ to Salvatore and Giuseppa (Russo) Garuffi, Nicoletta lived a life full of hard work, strong values and pride in family and community. Growing up on her family’s Blueberry Farm, she would travel with her dad, selling produce, as a small child. She was the English interpreter for her Sicilian Immigrant parents and thus learned a good business sense. At the age of 10, she would walk from the farm into town to pay bills and purchase groceries for her family.

Nicoletta graduated from Hammonton High School, Class of 1939, and then pursued Beauty Culture School earning a Beautician’s License through the Commonwealth of Pa. Upon completion she found work at a clothing manufacturer in Hammonton where she had to go after hours to learn the skills needed for the job.

Nicoletta became a member of the Local Grange, learned how to play guitar, sang, yodeled, and traveled with a music group to Fort Dix to entertain the Troops during WWII. Living on the farm, she loved animals, and rode the Farm Horses barebacked, as they could not afford saddles. She especially loved to ride the horse into town to visit her best friend Angelina “Dolly” Bertino.

In 1950, Nicoletta met and married Joseph A. Franchetta, Jr., and she moved to Vineland. She then took a job at DeRossi and Sons where she sewed pockets onto Military Uniforms. She worked there until 1980 and then decided to become a School Bus Driver for the Vineland Board of Education. This tiny lady proudly drove a Big Bus, especially #88.

Outside of work, Nicoletta joined the Vineland Community Chorus in1964. Under the direction of Henry Ricci the group eventually became the Singing Ambassadors of Vineland; she proudly sang in the group for 25 years. A parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Parish at the time, she was a member of the Ladies of St. Francis and eventually joined the Church Choir under the music direction of her daughter, Donna Marie. At home, she loved to work in the garden, go fishing and crabbing with the family, and bake the staple Italian meals. She was especially known for her meatballs. She will be remembered for her strength, determination, loving support to her family and others, unbelievable amount of energy, and quick one liner zings!

A Special thank you to the staff at Royal Suites Healthcare and Rehabilitation for their love and assistance with Nicoletta’s care.

Nicoletta was preceded in death by her husband of forty-five and a half years, Joseph A. Franchetta, Jr., their son (Baby-Boy), her parents Salvatore and Giuseppa (Russo) her brother Carmello Garuffi, her sister Josephine Garuffi, and her younger brother and sister-in-law, Phillip A. and Mildred (Brown) Garuffi.

She is survived by her daughter, Donna Marie and son-in-law Howard Berchtold of South Egg Harbor; granddaughters, Lauren Marie (Matt) Kean of Baldwin, MD; and Heather Christine Berchtold of Somers Point; great-granddaughter, Emma Jo Kean of Baldwin, MD. She is also survived by her brother-in-law George Franchetta of Vineland; Goddaughter Bertha Adams (Joe Falcone) of Glen Ridge, PA; 2 nieces Melanie Garuffi of Cherokee, N. Carolina, and Lynetta (Garuffi) Frederico of Hammonton; 2 nephews Greg (Ida Beth) Barner of Atlanta, GA, and Richard Franchetta (Pamela Burke) of Vineland, as well as her cousins, Abramo (Barbara) Ruggieri, Marie (Ruggieri) Wood, Eugene (Anita) DePaul, Ann (DePaul) Levandowski, Luigi Deldeo, Phyllis (Deldeo) Chapman, and several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the viewing hours on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 6-8 pm at Wainright-Bernhardt Funeral Home, 1024 E. Landis Ave., Vineland, NJ. A visitation (10:00 am) and a Mass of Christian Burial (11:00 am) will be held on Wednesday, October 7, at Sacred Heart Church (Christ the Good Shepherd Parish), 928 E. Landis Ave., Vineland, NJ. Entombment to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 741 E. Walnut Rd., Vineland. The Mass should also be livestreamed on the Parish’s Facebook page: “Christ the Good Shepherd Parish Vineland NJ”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in memory of Nicholetta Franchetta to an organization of choice, or to the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton. https://www.cohanzick-zoo.org/donate Or to Ashlie’s Embrace, https://www.ashliesembrace.org  - to help provide CuddleCots to hospitals for families experiencing stillbirth or infant loss so they can have the opportunity to say goodbye in their own way.

Condolences and tributes may be shared with the family at www.wbfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are in the care of Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home, Vineland.