John Anthony Ratico

John Anthony Ratico, cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, left us on April 2, 2025. He was known for his kind, loving, humorous personality. He lived a life filled with tremendous passion and service for others.

John was born and raised in the North Trenton area of Mercer County NJ. He graduated from Trenton Central High School where he participated in Track and Field and the school musical productions.

After high school, John worked as a Court Clerk in the Mercer County Clerks office. He served in the National Guard as well. After he married and became a father, he worked many part time jobs, such a produce clerk at Two Guys and as a landscaper with J.C.Landscape Company, so his wife could stay home to be with their children. Eventually, he co-owned Eastern Abstract & Title Company in Trenton, which eventually relocated to Hamilton Township. After it closed, he worked as a Senior Title Examiner with various companies until he retired from Weichert Title Company in Cherry Hill NJ.

Besides his employment, John was an Eucharistic Minister and RENEW leader for a period of time at St Raphael Roman Catholic Church. He was a volunteer for CONTACT Crisis Intervention Hotline of Mercer County. Also, John volunteered at the Morning Star House of Prayer in Ewing assisting with picnics and various landscaping projects. For a period, he served as circulation manager for the Monitor Catholic newspaper serving the Diocese of Trenton.

John was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks Manahawkin Lodge #2340, the Italian American club of Stafford Township, and a founding member of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Mercer County chapter.

With his wife, he loved to travel. They enjoyed seeing numerous places across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Italy and Sicily.

John was predeceased by his parents Lucille T. Amenta of Ewing and John F. Ratico of West Trenton, his brother and sister-in-law Paul and Carol Ratico of Levittown, PA, and his brother Jeffrey Ratico of Ewing.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years whom he loved dearly, Donna-Maria Ratico of Manahawkin NJ, his daughter Carla-Maria Ratico of Barnegat, his son and daughter-in-law John and Cynthia Ratico of Chesterfield, former son-in-law Michael T. Mangum of Little Egg Harbor, his two grandchildren, Sarah Anne and Michael Bryce Mangum of Barnegat who were the lights of his life, his sister and brother-in-law Joanne and Michael FitzPatrick of Gulf Breeze FL, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and lifelong friends Sr Josephine Aparo, Sr. Donna Padalino, Katherine Gorski and Nelson Nutt.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025 from 9:45 a.m.to 10:45 a.m. at St Raphael Roman Catholic Church located at 3500 South Broad Street, Hamilton Township, NJ 08610.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated following the visitation beginning at 10:45 a.m. 

Interment will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery located on Cedar Lane in Trenton, NJ.

No flowers allowed due to the Lenten holiday. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John’s name to Morning Star House of Prayer at 312 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing, NJ 08628.