Funeral services will be held for New Iberia resident Anthony J. Malachino a former US Navy veteran and retired Acadian Composites employee who passed away on May 22nd at 7:52 am at Calcutta House at Hospice of Acadiana in Lafayette after a month and a half long illness, he was 81 years old.
He was born on the 11th of June 1942 in Utica, New York, and was the oldest child of Joseph Anthony Malachino and Nancy Irene Palladino Malachino. He was also the first grandchild to be born in the United States of Italian immigrants who came this country from Scandale in the province of Crotone in Italy.
He grew up in Utica and at the age of 18 he joined the armed forces and served two years in the US Navy and was honorably discharged following a knee injury. While in the Navy he was stationed in New Iberia at the former US naval airbase now known as Acadiana Regional Airport and it was there where he met his future wife Charlotte Diane Chaisson. On November 3, 1961, the two were united in matrimony after which the couple returned to Utica where they lived there for a year or so before moving back to Louisiana making New Iberia their home.
He first went to work as a milkman for Pelican Creamery and then moved on to selling insurance for Union National Life for a short period of time. He also worked as a salesman for a long time at the Lafayette location of Bologna Brothers Imports, based out of New Orleans. He then later segwayed into painting aircraft and worked for Pride Aviation before moving on to Petroleum Helicopters Inc. and then finally to Acadian Composites of Lafayette a division of Bell Helicopters, a unit under aviation conglomerate Textron Inc., where he spent the majority of his career until he retired.
In 1995, Tony took a leave of absence from work to go on the mission field, he worked with children from Uganda, Rowanda, and Kenya. He traveled with the African Children’s Choir, as a chaperone for eighteen months as they toured the United States and Canada. He was commissioned into the ministry and served as a Care Pastor for three years at the First Assembly of God church in Youngsville. A few of his hobbies were playing league baseball for Pelican Creamery, fishing, traveling, and cooking, which he was really good at. He especially loved spending time with his family and most of all his grandchildren. To him, family was always important.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Charlotte Diane Chaisson Malachino of New Iberia, Louisiana, and his youngest brother David Malachino of Hinsdale, Massachusetts. He also leaves behind his three children; one son Loren Malachino (Giuseppe Castelli) of Viareggio, Italy, and two daughters Melanie Malachino Dorè of Youngsville and Cherè Malachino Tenney (Chance Tenney) of New Iberia, as well as his beloved grandchildren Michael Paul Hollier (Kiera T’nay) of New Iberia, Louisiana, Bree Hollier Galewski (Jason) of Lafayette, Louisiana, Alise Hollier Thibodaux (A.J) of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Zoe Dorè of Lafayette, Louisiana, Daphne Dorè of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Lacy Dorè of New Iberia, Louisiana. He also leaves behind his wonderful and loving great-grandchildren; Riff Hollier, Maddie Galewski, Roman, Maci, Axel Thibodaux and Baby Romero due in November, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins throughout the United States and Italy.
He is predeceased by his grandparents Antonio (Malacari) Malachino and Maria Giancotti, Antonio Palladino and Giuseppina Soldato, his parents Joseph Anthony Malachino and Nancy Irene Palladino Malachino, his brother Joseph Anthony Malachino, Jr. and his sister Mary Jo Malachino.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 1:00 pm at First Assembly of God Church in Youngsville with Pastor Joe Cormier officiating.
Visitation will be on Friday, May 31, 2024, from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm and on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 8:00 am until the time of service at the First Assembly of God Church 3555 Verot School Road in Youngsville.
Burial will follow at Holy Family Cemetery and Mausoleum in New Iberia, with Military Honors.
Pallbearers will be Loren Malachino, Chance Tenney, Michael Hollier, Jason Galewski, AJ Thibodaux, Vien Nguyen, Ken Trahan and Phil Sonnier.
He will be sadly missed by all.
To view the online obituary, view the movie presentation, and sign the online guest register, visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com
Evangeline Funeral Home of New Iberia is in charge of arrangements.
