"Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5.14

After fighting a long and courageous battle with cancer, Fred Falco passed from his earthly life and awoke to find his eternal home with the Lord Jesus Christ on August 2, 2008.

He was born July 21, 1928 on Staten Island, the youngest child of Gennaro and Julia (Faicco) Falco.

He attended Curtis High School, and shortly thereafter met the love of his life, Peggy Heywang, whom he married on September 1, 1952. They spent over 55 blissful years together in what others would call a storybook marriage. Together they raised seven children.

He worked for many years as a produce manager for the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. Fred was an excellent musician and singer. His band, "The Keynotes", was well known throughout New York City for their great performances at weddings and other festivals.

After retiring, Fred moved upstate and lived in the Middletown and Oneonta areas as well as at his beloved fishing camp in Hartsville.

Fred was very active in the Family Radio Ministries. He and Peggy made several missionary trips to Bulgaria, Mexico and Ireland. He was active in the Alfred-Almond Bible Church and the Gideon's as well as the Milford Center Community Bible Church. He loved to participate in Bible Studies and took great joy in his relationship with the Lord.

Fred is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret Rose "Peggy" (Heywang) Falco; his seven loving children, Gennaro, Julia (Ruffo), Anthony, Edward, Thomas, Fred and Christopher; his dear son-in-law, Paul Ruffo; his beloved daughters-in-law, Corinne, Julia, Wendy, Lori, Karen and Lisa; his grandchildren, Emily, Michael, Gennaro and Nicholas Falco, Paul Ruffo Jr., Jeanmarie and Frank (Thayer) and Peter Ruffo, Adrianne, Lee James, Lana and Julian Falco, Alexander, Justin, Jill and Sarah Margaret Falco, Thomas Anthony, Erin and Matthew Falco, Ferdinand, Margaret and Maria Falco, Ian, Alexandra and Ella Falco; nine great grandchildren, Isabella, Paul, Eric, Benjamin, Julia, Joseph, Skyler, Haley and Anthony Vincent; his sister, Carmela Buxton of Cortland and well as many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday, August 5, 2008 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home in Oneonta.

The funeral service will be Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the Milford Center Community Bible Church, with the Reverend Charles Emerson, pastor at the Alfred-Almond Bible Church officiating. Interment will follow at the Maryland Cemetery.

To send a condolence to the family or to sign the guest book, visit, www.lhpfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, donation in memory of Fred Falco can be made to Family Radio Ministries www.familyradio.com or Maryland Cemetery Association, c/o Karl Vogel, 101 Sunny Crest Road, Maryland, NY 12116

The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz Street, Oneonta, is serving the family.