Obituary of Raymond R. Flood, Jr.

Raymond Robert Flood, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York, July 30, 1940, to Henrietta and Raymond R. Flood, Sr. He passed away peacefully on October 2, 2022, every one of his children by his side. His loving wife, Joyce Marie Flood, mother and father, and great-grandson Dylan Larkin predeceased him. He is survived by his two sisters, Beth and Pat Leanza, Annette Flood and lifelong friend Sr. Jane Iannucelli. 

Everything about Ray Flood was outsized. His family of six kids in a home filled with endless laughter and commotion, packed with friends of all ages. His commitment to his Catholic faith, people’s dreams, and his Freehold and Florida communities. And always his devotion to his family. He loved a good garage sale and an old war movie.

Ray graduated from Xavier High School in 1958, but not before he met the girl next door, Joyce Marie Brooks, who he cherished the rest of his life. He finished his degree at St. John’s University in 1963, attending nights, with their first child at his graduation. 

Ray and Joyce settled their family in Freehold, New Jersey, in 1971. Shoulder to shoulder, they built a legacy of love, service and generosity. Ray was a Life Member of the Freehold Township Independent Fire Company #1 as a volunteer firefighter from 1976 to 2006, a natural mentor to new members. He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners.

His superpower was collecting and connecting people. Guest rooms and basement trundle beds were regularly filled with anyone who needed a pillow, including a dozen exchange students, many of whom remain family of the heart. His mantra was Desiderata, and Ray found inspiration and solace in different parts of the poem at various times of his life and did, indeed, remain “without surrender…on good terms with all persons.” The master networker was a faithful friend and pillar of the community. Ray belonged to the Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, Varuna Boat Club, and served as President of the Boosters Club at Freehold Township High School, raising funds for the fields where his children played.

Their values seamlessly shared, Ray and Joyce built a family steeped in love for each other and their communities. Their six children and spouses include Ann and Kevin Horan, Jane and Samir Kablaoui, Raymond III and Layal Flood, Maureen and Eric Fasano, Joyce and James Tuten, and Michael Flood. His adored 14 grandchildren are Daniel and Natalie Kablaoui, Christopher and Tiffany Larkin, Deena and Jake Lanier, Matthew Fasano, Philip and Brianne Horan, Leena Flood and Jacob Cottrell, Rheanna Kablaoui, Nicholas Fasano and Nicole Buckley, Amani Flood, Elizabeth Tuten, Katie Horan, Mark and Jessica Fasano, William Tuten, Dania Flood and Colin Swinburne, and his treasured great-grandchildren Shane Larkin, Grayson Larkin, and Mae Lanier. 

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Friday, October 7, 2022 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 10:00 AM Funeral Mass on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Interment will be private. For those that cannot attend the visitation or Funeral Mass in person, the family invites you to participate via webcast, HERE. In lieu of flowers, donations in Raymond's name may be made to Sisters of Charity Ministry Fund, Mount Saint Vincent, 6301 Riverdale Ave, Bronx, NY 10472, or Sisters of the Good Shepherd Collier Services, 160 Conover Road, Wickatunk, NJ 07765, or Sisters of Mercy Mid Atlantic Community, 1645 US Highway 22, Watchung, NJ 07069, Attention: Linda Cavalla. For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com