Anthony Vitale

Anthony Vitale, age 92, died peacefully at Shorepointe Nursing Home after a brief illness. Tony was born in Detroit on July 26, 1920, the son of John and Maria Vitale. Soon after his birth, Tony went to Italy where he attended school and learned his trade. At around age 8 he began working as an apprentice cabinet maker. He served in the Italian Army as a wood worker and traveled across Europe making wooden parts for the war cause. After the war, in 1945, Tony returned to America and brought his skills as a master cabinet maker with him. He was employed at Ferrante Manufacturing until he retired in 1983. In 1952 Anthony married Antonina Groppuso at Holy Family Catholic Church in Detroit. In their early years together, the couple lived on Detroit's east side near Assumption Grotto Church. While living in that home, Tony made many pieces of furniture and woodwork for the home, notably a stair case complete with handrails and balusters. In 1960 they moved to St. Clair Shores and the customization started over again. Tony enjoyed making wine, gardening and model trains. He was proud of his family and shared stories of growing up in Italy and his war time experiences. He built furniture for family members and worked on home projects of all types. Tony is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nina; their three children, John (Mary Ann), Frank and Jo Anne; 10 grandchildren, Lisa, Nicole, Anthony, Antoinette, Jonathan, Joseph, Matthew, Anthony "A.J.", Sam and Christopher; three great-grandchildren, Laila, Max and Violet and a brother, Joseph (Rita). He was predeceased by a daughter Mary Jane Hakim (Sam) and his siblings, Tom, Grace, Frank, Luke, and Antoinette. Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue at Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 6:30 pm Friday evening. On Saturday, his body will lie instate at Holy Family Catholic Church, 641 Chrysler Service Drive, Detroit from 9:30 a.m. until mass begins at 10:00 a.m. Rev. Fr. Giuseppe Licciardi will officiate. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236