Obituary for Frances M. Cocchia (Ciccolini)
Former Superior Court Judge Frances Cocchia dies at 96
Frances Cocchia was born to lead.
The oldest of five siblings, Frances rose through the legal ranks and ultimately went on to become the second female judge to be nominated and confirmed to the Superior Court of New Jersey.
Judge Cocchia died Friday of natural causes surrounded by family. She was 96.
Though she “didn’t know why,” Frances always said that she wanted to become a lawyer, so become a lawyer she did. After graduating from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Frances matriculated from Fordham Law School. She then went on to open a private practice.
From there she became the secretary of Newark’s Central Planning Board, where she would go on to meet her husband, former Star-Ledger editorial chief Neal Cocchia, who died in 2010.
They were married for 59 years.
Judge Cocchia was nominated to the Superior Court of New Jersey in 1972 and served until her retirement in 1991. Superior Court colleague and dear friend Judge Philip Freedman described her as “feisty.”
Her longtime secretary, Teresa Montemurro, recalled the judge’s leadership in the court system.
“She was strong,” said Montemurro, who remained close with Frances and her family long after she retired from the Superior Court. “She never had to prove she was a woman.
“Everyone loved her.”
Despite retiring in 1991, Judge Cocchia gave her consent in 2001 to continue on recall for temporary service in the judicial service, serving on mental health hearings at hospitals.
Judge Cocchia is survived by her sister, Dolores Cicenia and her husband James, and her brother Robert Ciccolini, and many loving nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brothers Rocco and Joseph Ciccolini.
She was a mother to all.
There will be a funeral mass celebrated at Our Lady of the blessed Sacrament Church, 28 Livingston Avenue, Roseland on Tuesday, November 27th at 10am. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. There will be no visitation prior to the funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital www.stjude.org would be appreciated.
Frances Cocchia was born to lead.
The oldest of five siblings, Frances rose through the legal ranks and ultimately went on to become the second female judge to be nominated and confirmed to the Superior Court of New Jersey.
Judge Cocchia died Friday of natural causes surrounded by family. She was 96.
Though she “didn’t know why,” Frances always said that she wanted to become a lawyer, so become a lawyer she did. After graduating from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Frances matriculated from Fordham Law School. She then went on to open a private practice.
From there she became the secretary of Newark’s Central Planning Board, where she would go on to meet her husband, former Star-Ledger editorial chief Neal Cocchia, who died in 2010.
They were married for 59 years.
Judge Cocchia was nominated to the Superior Court of New Jersey in 1972 and served until her retirement in 1991. Superior Court colleague and dear friend Judge Philip Freedman described her as “feisty.”
Her longtime secretary, Teresa Montemurro, recalled the judge’s leadership in the court system.
“She was strong,” said Montemurro, who remained close with Frances and her family long after she retired from the Superior Court. “She never had to prove she was a woman.
“Everyone loved her.”
Despite retiring in 1991, Judge Cocchia gave her consent in 2001 to continue on recall for temporary service in the judicial service, serving on mental health hearings at hospitals.
Judge Cocchia is survived by her sister, Dolores Cicenia and her husband James, and her brother Robert Ciccolini, and many loving nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brothers Rocco and Joseph Ciccolini.
She was a mother to all.
There will be a funeral mass celebrated at Our Lady of the blessed Sacrament Church, 28 Livingston Avenue, Roseland on Tuesday, November 27th at 10am. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. There will be no visitation prior to the funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital www.stjude.org would be appreciated.