Obituary of Carmen L. Fredericks
Carmen L. Fredericks (Blanco) died peacefully at Ocean Medical Center on Thursday, December 6, 2018 in Brick NJ at the age of 94 to be reunited with her beloved husband and best friend Robert H. Fredericks, who left this earth in 1996.
Carmen is survived by her three children: Joe Destefano (Sharon) of West Palm Beach FL, Darlene Destefano-Oldham of Port Orange FL & Joylene Fredericks-Rock (Eric) of Point Pleasant Beach NJ, her five grandchildren: F. Dana Carroll, Tiffany Destefano-Schiano, Anthony Destefano, Ashley Korman, and Tayden R. Rock, her eight great-grandchildren: Logan Carroll, Franco Schiano, Avery Carroll, Morgyn Zabell, Jade Carroll, Sofia Schiano, Bella Schiano, and Strummer Lee Korman; her many nieces and nephews; her friend for close to six decades, Adele Hoboly; and adored family-like friends Diane and Nicole Audain, along with the Alicea Family. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, all of her nine siblings as well as several nieces and nephews.
Carmen was born July 15, 1924 in Ponce, PR to Osvaldo Blanco and Luisa Martinez. She graduated from Ponce Business High School and at the age of 17 enlisted into US Women’s Army Corps during World War II, in which she was one the first 100 Puerto Rican women accepted to the US Army out of over 1,000 applicants. Her duties included the coordination and negotiations for the interchange of Prisoners of War. She was extremely proud of her service. After her Honorable Discharge she returned home to Puerto Rico for short time, then relocated to New York City where she graduated from the Broadway Beauty Academy as a cosmetologist and also became a model for Wanamaker’s Department Stores. During her years in NY, Carmen was also a book keeper, store detective and owned a dry cleaning business. Moving to Brick NJ in the early 1970’s, she focused on being a stay at home mom to her youngest child while also being part of Brick Twp. Schools Childhood Intervention program for at risk youth and as a Spanish/English interpreter for the schools.
She was also very active with volunteerism in both school and community groups. In 1991 she and much of her family had moved to south Florida where she would remain for eight years before moving back to NJ, then spending her final years in Point Pleasant Beach.
Carmen was a talented artist and amazing cook. She was generous, witty, and strong. Her children would like to remember her as someone who loved to laugh, dance and have fun. Of all her many passions her greatest was her family.
A Memorial Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:30am, Saturday, December 15 at Saint Martha Church, 3800 Herbertsville Road, Point Pleasant. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Carmen’s life.
Flowers are welcome or kindly send donations to Disabled American Veterans, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076 or via www.cst.dav.org
For condolences, please visit www.pableevertzfuneralhome.com