Orlando J. DiFruscio

Orlando J. DiFruscio, 96, of Methuen formerly of Salem, NH, passed away Tuesday morning, January 1, 2019 at the Holy Family Hospital in Methuen. He was the son of the late Francesco and Josephine (Fuschi) DiFruscio.

He was born in Lawrence, and attended Lawrence Public Schools. Orlando was a graduate of Lawrence High School, class of 1940. Orlando proudly served in the United States Air Force during World War II as a Corporal. He had been employed as an Inventory control specialist. Orlando married the love of his life, Dorothy in 1945. Together they raised a family of two girls and proudly watched them grow and start their own families.

Orlando enjoyed the race track, most especially the Rockingham Park Race Track and most of all spending time with his family. He was also a member of the Plainsman Club in Lawrence. In his later years at Methuen Village he enjoyed playing Bingo, baking cookies, and many other activities with friends he made there.

He is predeceased by his wife of sixty-nine years, Dorothy M. (Mezzapelle) DiFruscio; and an infant son, Orlando DiFruscio, Jr.; brothers, Frank and Rudolph DiFruscio.

He is survived by his daughters: Cindy Goult and her husband, Rod of Newburyport, and Marcia Gookin and her husband, Patrick of Boston; three grandsons, Dennis Boucher and his wife, Gracie of Freeport, TX, Patrick Gookin and his wife, Karen, and Kiel Gookin and his wife, Robin, all of Los Angeles, CA; great-grandson, Royal Reader-Gookin; sister, Justine Lombardo and her husband, Jack of Methuen; sister-in-law, Mary DiFruscio of Tamworth, NH. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his entombment on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 12:00 Noon at the Eternal Light Mausoleum, 21 Pond Street, Salem, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.