Obituary of Frank C. Giejda

Big Frank C. Giejda, Sr., 87, died Tuesday, September 23, 2008. Born in Sayreville, he was the son of Jan and Frances (Kaminski) Giejda. He was raised in South River. After he was married, he resided in Plainfield before moving to Howell in 1996. Prior to retiring in 1990, Frank was employed by the Plainfield Board of Education as the Head Grounds Keeper for 45 years. He was known as Big Frank to all the student athletes and coaches. It was a known fact that you didnt step on the Varsity Field unless you played with the Varsity team or ELSE. Throughout the years, Frank did so much for his boys as he would call them. No matter what time of day or what their problem was, Frank was there for them. He received numerous awards for his work with the youth of Plainfield. He was also awarded from the NJ Turf Growers Association from Rutgers University for having a natural turf field in such good condition. A proud WWII Army Veteran, Mr. Giejda received numerous medals, including the Purple Heart for being injured in Italy. He served in the North Africa, Sicily and Salerno occupations. He was a member of the Polish Falcons and Eagles in Plainfield. His wife, Harriet Tietz Giejda predeceased him in 2002. Surviving are three sons, Frank C. Jr., of Howell, Mark and his wife Cynthia of Farmingdale, and James F. Giejda and his wife, Sandy of Crystal Lake, IL; a daughter, Charlene Terraglia and her husband Louis of Bedminster; a daughter-in-law, Maryann Giejda of Tinton Falls; a sister, Wanda Vaslyn of Carteret: grandchildren Jennifer and Brett, Assunta and Anthony, Danielle, Jan and Shannon, Matthew and Lisa, Cristina, Luigi, Jana, Dylan, Gavin and Michael; great-grandchildren, Alexis, Caitlyn, Zachary, Guiseppe, Isabella, David, Kieren, Emily and Jason. Funeral Services will be held at 9:00 a.m.on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at the Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, followed by a 10:00 am Mass of Resurrection at Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church in Martinsville and interment at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 7-9 pm and on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Charlene Terraglia, P.O. Box 97, Pluckemin, NJ 07978 for a scholarship to be set up in his name at Plainfield High School.