remembering a good night  Merry Christmas Anthony.  I will promise to enjoy your memory on this day. And like you wanted be happy no matter what
 

everyone has said such amazing things about Anthony, and all of them are true.
but he was human. he drove me crazy some times as you all know.  he was persnickety to a fault.  how to load and unload the dishwasher.  how to set  up his night stand before bed.  how to set up the hospital room before I left.  how bad i drove the car.  he did not really like my cats (lennon and mccartney).   he said i worked too hard.   i never relaxed as he liked to.  i was too serious.  he wanted to make sure i was "aware" when i went anywhere.  he hated to paint or do wallpaper with me.  he never liked to talk with me on a long car ride.  and on and on...,

but that was  our life togehter.  281/2 years.  57 years old.  5 hugh operations and cancer together. 2 wonderful children.  2 beautiful grandaughters. 2 spouses of those children who were so supportive.  1 magnificent last year together loving each other with everything we had left to give.  he waited for me to die that day. i got there just in time.  I remember tellling him if he didnt wait for me it would really tick me off.  so we waited for me.  

of yeah did i mention that he loved  no matter what.  that i was not exactly a picnic to be with for all those years.  that he forgave me of my faults.  that supported me in all my endeavors without a heart beat. and became truly the other half of me

well he was and will continue to be the best thing that God has blessed me with in my life

I know God will continue to bless me.  

thanks to, Anthony my son, for this website
for eveyone to say their thoughts,
for all  the  stories and photos and videos

i love you all and pray for you in thanksgiving 

Albert Pike said that What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.  Dad spent his life putting others first. It came natural to him. The generosity and devotion to family that has come to characterize my dad is something that all of us in this room can surely attest to. I’ll tell a bit about my experience with him, and I’m sure that some of his family and friends can roast his first 20 years.

Memories of my father and me began on the bread route. He would wake me up at 3:15am, and always ask me if I wanted to go or not. As early as it sounds, I would wake up long enough to put my clothes on and once I was in the truck, I would sleep on the wheelwell in back with a package of 4inch hamburger buns (or hams as we would say) as my pillow.  Even though it doesn’t seem like much, the fact that he never flinched about giving me a fresh new package of soft bread to use as a pillow said a lot about his generosity. He would let me sleep as long as I wanted to. He never got upset or pushed me to get up. He was just happy that we were together. We’d arrive at the bakeries and this is where we would put the orders together. I haven’t been on the route for years now, but in thinking about these memories, it all comes back clear as day. I observed how to keep friendly relations with people, how to work efficiently, and how to deal with problems as they came up. Implanted in me were sayings like “What’s up with that?” “What’s happenin bros?” and a bit of a temper. I was dad’s little helper, handing bread to him in the huge freezers, dragging stacks of bread around with the hook, and chilling in the back offices while he would add up the orders and collect the cash. Work ethic and character development came out of hundreds of hours of working on the truck.

All of dad’s customers really enjoyed him. I imagine that compared to other delivery men, they come to do their job first and foremost, and limit the conversation as their most important agenda is finishing their work and having their own time. But for dad, the bread delivery almost seemed to be just a little busy work that got done in the background before he could hang out for a while. Talking with his customers was how he really wanted to spend his time. He was never in a hurry, and always enjoyed the personal relationships that he had with his customers.  He often spoke of being grateful for having a job that he truly enjoyed. I learned how to make people feel important, putting others first.

As time went on and I moved away, Dad would drive to the other side of the state to come see me for the weekend. This was another time when he had no personal agenda. We did whatever I wanted to do. Part of me wishes that he would’ve had just a couple ideas for things that we could do, as my childhood brain only could think to go to the movies and the arcade for fun. Now I have all sorts of things that I want to bring my daughter to do and see. I have to remind myself of the way my dad was, and let her decide what we’re going to do sometimes. We would play skee ball and air hockey until we ran out of quarters, then we would go to the movies. Sometimes we would go to one movie, and after that one ended, we would just casually stroll into another movie that was showing at that theater and watch another one. On weekends when he didn’t come to Kalamazoo, he would drive to pick me up and bring me back to Detroit. These 2.5 hour drives were when I learned all the words to every Lionel Richie and Freddie Jackson song written.

When I went away to college and began to take an interest in overseas study, dad got excited with me and encouraged me to pursue it. Not because he could understand it or knew what the experience would offer me, but only because he could see in my eyes how much I wanted it, and that was enough for him to fully support me.

Years later, when I got in a car accident, dad stopped all that he was doing and sat by my bedside for a month until I got better. I remember waking up and seeing dad on one side and mom on the other, and I felt their healing power and I recovered. The power of prayer and pure love that I received from dad and many others of you in this room allowed me to surprise all the doctors by learning how to walk, write, speak, and think again and return to a normal life.

After the accident, I decided to move to the other side of the world and live in Japan. Imagine how you would feel if your son or daughter told you that they were going to move 6000 miles away. Knowing what a devoted family man my dad was, and how infrequently he traveled, I’m sure he didn’t really understand why I would want to do that. But never once did he put his ideas or wishes first. Never did he show sadness or any other selfish feelings about me leaving. He saw my eyes and knew that this was what I wanted, and that was all it took for him to support me 100%. Devotion, love, generosity.

Dad has had a 5-artery bypass surgery, two kidney transplants, a pancreas transplant, and suffered from cancer. Through it all, he has not complained and has barely shown any form of suffering. The courage that he has had is humbling, and helps all of us to remember that when our lives get difficult, it’s really not that bad.

When my wife became pregnant with our daughter in the same month that Dad was diagnosed with cancer. The cycle of life closes one door and opens another. I have a Japanese proverb that describes how I feel. It says: watakushi domo wa mijuku de wa arimasu ga kojin no oshieomamori shojin shite iku shozon desu. minasama kata ni wa, kojin to douyou o tsukiai itadaki, go shidou itadake masu koto o onegaimoshiage masu.

means: I am inexperienced, but I will take your thoughts and actions and character with me as advice and try my best to be a better person every day. I ask you to instruct me and guide me along as I face challenges in life, helping me to tackle them with the wisdom that you have always carried.

As much as dad was a devoted father and confidant, his greatness and all that he has come to represent is a product of a life of influence that he received from many of you. And so today we honor dad for the man that he was and the special way that he touched all of our lives, but we should also recognize the unity that we have as family and friends and how our words and experiences combine and contribute towards a connected body of love that we share and can continue to enjoy. Dad lives within each one of us just as all of you lived within him, and we will continue to see parts of him come through in our words and actions as he will remain a part of our life experience. Even though it is cliché, today really is a time to not only mourn dad’s passing, but celebrate the fact that we all play our parts towards contributing to each other’s growth and life experience.

I’ve been gone for 10 years now. But in the times that I have been home, I have been so impressed to listen to people speak about their relationship with my father and the precious interactions that they have shared. People don’t speak lightly about my father. “Yeah, he’s a nice guy.” If ever someone is speaking about my father, they take a moment. They elaborate on the ways that he is wonderful. They show it in their eyes and expression. Reading some of the tributes on his memorial website, it is easy to see that relationships with my father were extremely special. There is a lot that I don’t know about the ways that my dad was special for each and every one of you, and that is why I want to pass the microphone to hear more of his stories and celebrate him through you.

I want to acknowledge each of you for being a part of dad’s journey. I hope that I can stand for half the man that my dad was as I begin my life as a father and husband. Three people in this room influenced my father greatly and carry the same saintly power of selfless generosity and devotion that he had. These are my mother Ann Marie, his devoted wife Rosalie who stood by his side through it all, and his mother, my nono, Betty Lavigne. Before I pass the microphone, let us stand and give thanks and praise and honor these women with a round of applause on my dad’s behalf.

May my father now rest in peace, and his memory always remain with us. Amen.

My dear sweet brother Anthony the top 10 reasons I want to thank you.( We used to watch David Letterman together)
#10 For all the joy you brought to everyone around you.
#9 For always being there whenever anyone needed advice,support,or just an ear to listen.
#8 For being the handyman of the family and for all the things you demolished re-built and repaired over the years in all of our homes. I dont know how we will get by without you.
#7 For being a great " Uncle Tony " to all of our kids and grandkids.Especially the infants. Ma would call you " The baby whisperer"
.#6 For being a good brother, friend and confidante.Also a great son,you brought much joy to Mom and Dad.
#5 For taking me in on Farmbrook when I needed a place to crash.(we had a lot of fun there).And for throwing me the keys to your "73 Vette when my car was out of commision.And when I said are you sure ? Telling me " no problem go ahead bro ".
#4 For choosing Naples as your final resting place. Makes our beaches all the more special.
#3 For teaching me to live in the moment and appreciate every day that we have.
#2 For taking me on this journey that we shared the past 3 months.I learned a lot about Life,Love and Commitment.
And the #1 reason I want to thank you is for showing us all how to die with dignity,respect and honor. I will miss you my brother for the rest of my life.

 Thanks to everyone for their prayers  these last weeks. The service was beautiful and very comforting I think my brother would be very pleased. The love displayed in church yesterday was simply amazing. please keep the family in your prayers. Love too all.      





   Larry and Fran 

  Anthony was our bread man for Amore's Family Restaurant.

If anyone knows him they know how he always wanted organization. One day he came in to make his bread delivery, and lets just say bread organization was not our top priority. My brother-in-law let me know rather loudly in front of my employees. I did not take well to this, I strongly told him how i felt and he left.

   The next day I was at home with my daughter and she said "Dad saomeone is at the door for you". It was Anthony he came to apologize he was almost tearful. He said "I didnt mean to disrespect you in front of your employees." Im sorry. It was the most heart felt apologies I have ever recieved. He is the true example of forgiveness. His quick to anger attitude was actually a funny joke after that, and we joked about it. I will miss this man, but I cant help to be a little jealous in a way because there is no place I would rather be than with the Father.

Anthony prepare a place for me, when I get there you can show me how organized Heaven is. Love you, Paul

My brother Anthony "The Duke." My protector, my confidant, a constant source of love and support throughout my life. His advice and guidance was always welcomed because he was wise beyond his years. He always put family and friends before himself. He will always live on in all the people that were blessed enough to have known him. He will be remembered for his strength, dignity, love of family, friends and his faith in God.
I will miss my brother for the remainder of my days, I have been so blessed with such a loving family. We will keep his memory alive by remembering his kindness and generosity and all he has taught us. I will always love Rosalie for being an amazing wife and his children for caring on his legacy of unconditional love. I will miss you brother.

It was one week after marrying my new wife, Eva, that I found out that I probably had a cancerous tumor on my right kidney and needed surgery to have it removed.  The prognosis wasn't known, but of course I could only imagine the worst.  So, the day of surgery my wife and myself walk into Beaumont for sign-in for surgery and sitting there was my mom, sisters and who would I ever imagine but Anthony!  He said he just wanted to stay till I was out and ok from the surgery and to see what the surgeon found upon opening me up to remove the kidney.  So, I wake up enough to know who's there in my room after surgery and Anthony and my family greet me.  He would never know just what that meant to me that a friend who didn't have to take time out of his day to see me would be there for me and my family.  This is just one of so many times he gave me support and lifted me out of the deepest of tough times with his smile and soft way.  His compassion has always been a model for me to try desperately to model after and I can't see how I can compete, but I try.  I love you Anthony, always did and I'm at peace knowing you are finally without pain or illness and at home with our Lord.  May He keep you in the palm of His hand my dear friend.

Tony really wasn't a golfer but he knew it meant alot to me and the guys so he set up a golf game and a dinner for us  Phil, Joe, Billy and Tom  and he paid for everything himself. Well I was palying well and I hit a great drive on a par 5 and had 260 to the green and I never played the golf course before so Tony told me go ahead and hit it but we couldn't see the green and I hit it onto the green and almost hit the guy and his wife playing in front of us ! The guy was mad and wanted to fight me and Tony told him this guy he is from California and never played the course and I told him to hit the shot so if you have a problem it's with me not him. Well I told him I was sorry and felt bad but the guy keep looking at me and left the flag out on every hole and then I was getting mad a no class thing to do so in golf so Tony knew I had a bad temper told us he had to go set up the food with his great bread etc. and when I went in to pay this guy a visit he was gone sort of ran away so we all asked him  what happen and he told us don;t worry about it I took care of it. Always thinking of others first he was always the first one to call me and visit me every time I came back to Michigan to visit and even had a dinner for me at his his home when my Dad died with my other friends to help comfort me. I will miss him ! I loved this Man he was the best friend you could ever have in this World but now at peace !If you would lkie to talk call me at 916-258-3080 or email pkpeters7@comcast.net so we can all honor our friend !

When Allie was a couple months old, we were in Michigan visiting my mom for a few days and decided to have Allie baptized.  My mom had to pull a couple strings at St. Raymond's, but in light of our circumstances, they agreed to baptize Allie on a weekday morning.  


My husband Jason had just had brain surgery and had gotten a bad prognosis. Between the post partum, the prognosis, and the baptism, I was a wreck!!  When we got home from the baptism, we walked back to my mom's yard, and there was Uncle Tony sitting in the yard -- all smiles! 

I was so happy to see him . . . he had come to hold Allie (of course!), and to check on me.  It meant the absolute world to me that morning. 

He got to see Allie wearing the same christening robe that I had worn as a baby when I was baptized alongside my cousin Larry on Bedford!  I know that made him smile:-).


Love you forever, Uncle Tony! 
  

I remember in college at Michigan State, Dad came to see me for a football game. I was so happy that he was going to come, as I always was when he would travel to come and see me. I had all of my accessories for my band uniform, but at the last moment I remembered that I had forgotten something in my dorm room. Dad was with me and he knew that I couldn't leave the band, but I needed that piece. Dad ran-not jogged-but ran all the way back to my dorm, and then ran all the way back, in order to give me my accessory. He didn't complain, he wasn't upset about it, he was smiling all the time. He didn't think twice about it. It may not seem like much, but I have always remembered it, and at the time it seemed like such a feat. I knew that his health wasn't the best, and he was not one to run a lot. But whatever I needed, he was going to do everything in his power to make sure that I could get it. If it was important to me, it was important to him. This is just one of countless times when Dad showed me his caring, selfless way to express his love. 

When Anthony was a youngster he wanted to be the first one downstairs at Christmas to open everyones toys. He would then take them all apart and reassemble them before anyone else was the wiser. He was almost always successful. When you saw that smile you couldn't possibly get angry with him.

Anthony was the best brother-in-law and the best friend one could hope for.
Too young,too soon.Farewell to a fine man.

Nancy and Glen