Anthony "Tony" Canatella

A visitation for Tony will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, beginning at 1:00 p.m., with the rosary being recited at 1:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. All services will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 507 E 26th St., Bryan, TX 77803. Following the service, a burial will be held at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A meal will be provided afterward at the St. Joseph Parish Activity Center.

Tony was born on November 8, 1933, to Charlie and Minnie (Vasta) Canatella. He met the love of his life, Jane Ann Malik, at the Snook dancehall, and they were married on April 20, 1963. Together, they were blessed with two children, Rick and Janice, whom they lovingly raised with a deep sense of family, faith, and tradition. Many Saturday nights were spent at the SPJST hall, where they passed down their love of dancing to their children.

Tony proudly served his country in the US Navy, where he was stationed in San Diego, California aboard the USS Norton Sound. While fulfilling his duties in the Navy, he also found camaraderie and joy as a member of the ship’s baseball team.

The youngest of eleven children, Tony grew up farming in the Brazos Bottom. He often shared stories of picking cotton, attending school in a one-room schoolhouse, hunting rabbits along the railroad tracks, and getting into mischief with his brothers and sisters. Sundays were spent with family, where his mother always made sure there was plenty of food for anyone who stopped by—a tradition Tony carried on with his own family. Sundays at his house meant something was always on the BBQ pit, a glass of sweet tea in his hand, and friends and family gathered around. His barbecue pork chops and chicken were a favorite of his grandkids.

Tony spent 60 years working for Soil Mechanics/Terracon as a Lab Technician. His work took him to places like Hawaii; Santa Rosa, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Louisiana. He was incredibly dedicated to his job and his coworkers, continuing to work even after retirement simply because he loved what he did and the people he worked with.

Tony had a knack for interacting with kids and spent many years coaching little league baseball before discovering his calling as an umpire. He had a presence that made the game more exciting, and it wasn’t uncommon for him to pull up to the little league park only to be greeted by eager kids begging him to umpire their game. His love for the sport and the joy he brought to the field made him a beloved figure in the community.

Tony loved watching sports—especially anything his grandkids were involved in. Whether it was soccer, basketball, football, Friday night drill team performances, dance recitals, or most of all, baseball games, he was always their biggest fan. From his lawn chair, he loved to coach and offer encouragement, often calling out his favorite phrase: ‘Put ‘em in the books!’ His grandkids were the ultimate joy of his life, and if you spent any time talking to him, you were bound to hear a story about one of them. To say he was proud of them would be an understatement.

Tony was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved taking his grandkids fishing. He may have spent more time untangling a fishing line, but it didn’t matter to him – he was doing what he loved. Every fishing trip ended with a trip to Dairy Queen. He also loved a good card game and poker night with his family and buddies.

Some of his best days were spent mowing his meticulously kept lawn, then sitting back with a glass of sweet tea and a cigarette, admiring his handiwork. Above all, Tony’s greatest gift was his ability to take care of others and make them laugh. He always had a smile on his face, a joke to tell, and a way of making people feel loved. He checked on his kids and grandkids daily, and if you didn’t answer, you were guaranteed to get a voicemail.

Tony is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Gus, Joe, Charlie, Luke Canatella and sisters Josephine Gargano, Bonnie Canatella, Mary Turner, Carrie Marino and Willie Mae Licce.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jane Ann; his son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Tonya Canatella; his daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Randy Blum; and his grandchildren, Amanda Blum, Clayton Blum, Joseph Anthony Canatella, and Austin Canatella, all of Bryan. He is also survived by his brother, Sam Canatella, and his wife Bernice, of Navasota; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Buddy and Mary Frances Zemanek of Bryan, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving Tony as pallbearers are Ronnie Zemanek, David Marino, Luke Canatella, Clayton Blum, Joseph Canatella and Austin Canatella.

Tony’s legacy is one of love, laughter, and unwavering dedication to family. His presence will be deeply missed, but his memory will forever be cherished.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Broadmoor Court and Enhabit Hospice for their loving care of Tony.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church Bryan, TX, Enhabit Hospice of Bryan, TX or a charity of your choice.