Frank Joseph Biondo Jr.

Frank Joseph Biondo, Jr., a life long resident of Kansas City, Missouri, peacefully passed away on January 5, 2022 in the presence of his wife of more than 68 years years and one of his sons and his wife. The other members of his immediate family were in daily communication from around the world. Frank was just starting to enjoy his retirement in New Bern, North Carolina when he passed after a brief illness. He was born on October, 25, 1934 and passed at the age of 87.

Frank is survived by his love, his friend, his partner, his wife, Mary Ann Biondo. Frank and Mary Ann were by each other’s side for their entire lives, a life’s journey they shared from the day of their marriage on April 30,1953.

Together, they were the proud parents of seven sons. Frank was deeply loved and admired by them all. He is survived by his eldest son, Frank, of Kansas City, Missouri, by Gary and his wife Cecilia, of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Dalian, China, by John and Deborah of Overland Park, Kansas, by Timothy of Kansas City, Missouri, Christopher and Denise of New Bern, North Carolina, and by his youngest, Michael of Brookings, South Dakota. Frank and Mary Ann’s fourth son, Philip, passed away on March, 21, 1998. The grief from the sad lose of their son at a relatively young age was endured by Frank and Mary Ann together. Phillip is deeply missed by his family to this day. Frank is also survived by his dear younger sister and only sibling, Sylvia Mazzeffe of Kansas City, Missouri. Frank and Mary Ann are grandparents to 13 grand children, including Cory of New Bern, and 9 great grandchildren.

Frank was a third generation barber and had life long customers that also spanned generations. His customer’s valued him for giving a pretty good haircut, for being able to tell a good joke, for listening, and for being humble, kind and gracious. Frank was the co-owner/proprietor of the Plaza West Hair Salon, he also owned and operated a shop in Ward Parkway Shopping Center for many years. Frank himself often said that he succeeded as a barber only because hot towel shaves went out of style. He admitted that he was good with scissors, but never mastered the art of a close shave.

Without a doubt, the most important aspects of Frank’s life, the most meaningful and fulfilling parts, centered on his wife and his family. By the age of 29, Frank and Mary Ann had six sons under the age of ten years old. It was a lively, loud and rambunctious household. Frank’s sense of responsibility for and commitment to his family never wavered, his children grew up well loved and happy. The memories of their father span the decades of his life, it is a wealth of memories that they all share. Perhaps one of the proudest days of Frank’s life was when he sailed on the USS McFaul. DDG 74 with one of his sons at the helm. Both parents were proud that two of their sons served in the military. Frank was equally proud of his children’s academic achievements and of watching them play sports. College and University graduations were always a day of celebration. As adults, Frank and Mary Ann welcomed their son’s families and children into the greater family, and were always keen to follow their careers and life paths. Frank had a wonderful experience on a trip to New York to visit a son. Frank and Mary Ann traveled to Hong Kong, China and the Fiji Islands to visit another son. They celebrated their 50th weeding anniversary in Fiji with walks on the beach, dancing to the resort’s band, and with a private breakfast in an open air cabana overlooking the South Pacific. The coast of North Carolina became their vacation location of choice, they had many joyful times there with a son, his wife, his children and their grandchildren. Frank and Mary Ann were generous with their time, giving of their love, and always opened the doors of their home. Their son’s friends, girl friends, colleagues and companions, their wives and partners, and especially their grandchildren, were always welcome. Frank and Mary Ann shared their home and helped to raise one of their grand children for over a decade. The vows they promised to each other, were extended to their children. Always accepting and understanding of hardships, difficulties and life choices, as well as the dreams, ambitions and desires that took some of their children to different cities and even countries around the world. Frank loved a game of golf with a son, or a workout in a Health Club together, he enjoyed talking about sports, a song he liked, or history. One of his grandson’s thanked him for teaching his father to be a good father. Frank Biondo, father to seven sons, was loved deeply by Frank, Gary, John, Philip, Tim, Chris, Michael.

Frank often said, in quiet moments of reflection, that the best decision he ever made in his life was marrying Margaret Ann Tully. This marriage was the essential relationship and most important part of his life. Frank and Mary Ann’s journey together was the embodiment of those most traditional wedding vows. They were together “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health”. They cherished and loved each other. Mary Ann remembers the routines of a shared life, their morning coffee, favorite meals, and special restaurants. Frank was a prodigious eater. Breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, dinner and three or four after dinner snacks made up a normal day. Mary Ann, being a great cook, was up to the task. They were always communicating about the raising of their sons. Mary Ann says Frank was a a great kisser, and that she was his from the first kiss.

When Frank and Mary Ann married, and began their life long journey together, they thought $100 a week, pizza and beer on Friday nights, and a few kids would make a good life. $100 doesn’t get you much anymore and the attraction of pizza and beer fads over time. Frank and Mary Ann also had more than a few kids. What did not change about their youthful dream was the hope of a good life. Mary Ann loved Frank. Frank loved Mary Ann. Together, they had a good life.

Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the family and friends of Frank Joseph Biondo, Jr.