Alfred D'Agostino

Alfred (Freddie) D'Agostino, age 87, of St. Clair Shores, Michigan passed away on Friday, December 12, 2025. Alfred was born in Vittoriosa, Malta to parents Amadeo and Guiseppina (née Axiak) D'Agostino. Alfred was the beloved husband of 63 years to Emily (née Grima) D'Agostino who preceded him in August 2024. Loving and cherished father to Sandra (Anthony) Scerri, Mario (Debby) D'Agostino, and Deborah (Michael) Taylor. Cherished Nannu to Byron (Bethany) Scerri, Patrick (Luisina) Scerri, Chelsea (Thomas) McGovern, Shelby (Daniel) Murguia, Gianluca (Francesca) Scerri, Zachary (Dana) D'Agostino, Alexander Taylor, Justin Taylor and Sabrina Taylor. Loving Bużnannu (Great Grandfather) to Emma, Emilio, Samantha, Charlotte, Lucas, Cecelia, Alessio, and Helena. Alfred was preceded in death by his siblings Edgar D'Agostino, Edwige D'Agostino, Mary (Lawrence) Cefai, Giovanna (James) Gatt, Erminia D'Agostino, Joseph D'Agostino and Agatha (Eligio) Parascandalo. Freddie will be missed by many loving family and friends in the United States, Malta, Australia, Canada, England and Scotland.

Freddie was a very young boy in Malta, a British Crown Colony, at a time when Maltese families endured the devastating impact of World War II, seeking shelter when the air raids announced the coming of a German or Italian plane approaching the island to drop bombs on the British naval ships in the Grand Harbour. They lived in dug out shelters created in the centuries old limestone fortifications, ate food consisting of lard and bread and endured many more hardships. On January 16, 1941 his mother, young brother and sister sought shelter in the sacristy area of their hometown's Collegiate Church of St. Lawrence, Vittoriosa when the air raid alarmed, and sadly did not survive the bomb dropped by a German plane which was targeting the dockyard and ships in the Grand Harbour. Freddie and younger sister Agatha did not know their mother, and older sisters Edwige (Vivi), Mary, and Giovanna took on the role of surrogate mothers. He would later recount the day the war ended and write "V" on the houses with chalk. Amadeo, his father and brother Edgar became role models in trade work and Freddie loved to tinker with his hands: designing and building things from scraps of wood and metal. At 16 years, he got his first job at the drydocks, the ship repair yard where he learned the skills of a tool machine operator to set up, run, and maintain machinery to create or repair tools for the ships in the Grand Harbour. He enjoyed the precision work of this trade and worked alongside many hard-working men who became treasured lifelong friends.

A friend set up a blind date on New Year's Eve, 1957. Approaching the corner of Merchants and Melita streets in Valletta, he met a young beautiful, brown-eyed woman with long black hair. Emily instantly became the love of his life, they wed in 1961, had three children, and lived in Vittoriosa. Since his teenage years, Freddie had always dreamed of living in the United States, so in 1968 when the opportunity presented itself Freddie, Emily and three young children immigrated to their new home in Detroit, Michigan, USA. They settled in with the loving support and generosity of his sister Mary and husband, Lorry and sister Agatha and husband, Eligio who ventured to the US ahead of them. Freddie quickly secured a skilled tradesman position with Ford Motor Company at the Rouge Plant where he worked for 32 years. One of his managers described Freddie as 'the best machinist he had ever worked with and could do anything!"

In 1970 they bought their first house in Taylor. Freddie purchased his first car, a Chevy Chevelle, and learned how to drive, thanks to his niece, Joyce. It was important to keep customs and traditions of Malta close to heart and share them with future generations, so Sunday and holiday family gatherings were filled with traditional Maltese cooking, playing billiards and watching soccer (especially routing for the USA soccer team in the World Cup matches). Freddie spent a tremendous amount of time with his grandchildren, sharing stories about the family's history and teaching his life's lessons. In 1985 visiting his sister, Giovanna, husband Jimmy and nephews in Australia was a memorable experience. In 2023 he returned to Australia, this time with grandson, Alexander and their backpacks, and celebrated his 85th birthday with the most welcoming Gatt family in Melbourne. As a craftsman, he was always busy working on projects; gardening and building a fully furnished basement, completing kitchen renovations, and designing and creating colorful bird houses for his family and for the backyard so that Emily could enjoy watching and feeding the birds. In retirement Freddie traveled with Emily across the United States and visited dear friends in Toronto, Canada, and spent time with siblings and many friends in Malta, while enjoying several other European destinations. Throughout his life, Freddie had many close friends with whom he always kept in contact, from his schoolboy days to work at the drydocks and at Ford, and to his church friends and dear neighbors Sam and Mary in St. Clair Shores. Freddie's most challenging role was Emily's caregiver in their home as her health steadily declined watching the impact Lewy Body Dementia had on her body, mind and spirit for more than five years. His unfailing devotion and all-encompassing love was present in every detail and attention to provide Emily care and comfort until she peacefully transitioned to heaven on August 10, 2024, the feast of St. Lawrence, patron saint of their hometown church in Malta.

Freddie was incredibly dedicated to his family and proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who in return adored him for his big caring heart and generous spirit to all who came to know him.

With deepest gratitude and love to you, dear Freddie, we love and will miss you forever. ♥️

Alfred will lie in-state on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, beginning at 10:30 am, until time of Mass at 11:00 am, at St. Lucy Catholic Church 23401 Jefferson Ave. St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48081.

Visitation will take place on Monday, December 29, 2025, from 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm, with a Scripture Reading at 7:00 pm, at Kaul Funeral Home 28433 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48081.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Alfred are suggested to:

Penrickton Center For Blind Children https://penrickton.org/donations/donate-to-penrickton-center/

Henry Ford St. John Hospital Foundation Henry Ford St. John Giving

Donations can also be mailed to:

Henry Ford Health

St. John Foundation

One Ford Place Suite 5A

Detroit MI 48202

Or call: 313.343.4353