Willie Anthony Vitanza

Willie Antonio Vitanza, 95, died September 10, 2011 at St. Joseph Regional Health Center. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, September 12, 2011 at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan, with the Rosary to be recited at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Rev. Maurice Restivo of Angleton, Texas as Celebrant.

Willie was born July 25, 1916 in Dickinson, Texas, the son of Antonio and Carmella (Bua) Vitanza. After serving our country in the Army during World War II, he returned to Dickinson for the next 50 years. He married Lucy Restivo and worked for the Galveston Road & Bridge Dept. for 42 years. They moved to Bryan in 1998 to be close to their son and his family.

His great passions were cooking and community service, serving with the Knights of Columbus, charter member of the Dickinson Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Shrine of the True Cross Catholic Church in Dickinson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Carmella (Bua) Vitanza; daughter, Camella Joyce Vitanza and his wife of 55 years, Lucy Restivo Vitanza.

Survivors include his son, Anthony and his wife Debbie Vitanza of Bryan; grandchildren, Lisa Vitanza Peitz and her husband Travis of Richmond, TX; Jason Vitanza of Austin; sisters-in-law Lena Jackson of Dallas and Pauline Restivo of Bryan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Most Holy Trinity Church, 1713 N. Tinsley, Angleton, TX or St. Anthony Catholic Church, 401 S. Parker Ave. Bryan, TX 77803.