Obituary for Anthony DiPaolo
ANTHONY "TONY" MARIO DIPAOLO ST. LOUIS – Anthony “Tony” Mario DiPaolo entered into God’s hands at age 84, on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, at 2:36 p.m. at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. He was surrounded by his wife, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren. A celebration of his life is planned with a Catholic Mass and burial to take place in Youngstown, on Monday, Dec. 19, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1410 Oak Hill Ave, at noon, with visitation starting at 10:30 a.m. Visitation hours in St. Louis, were held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, at Bopp Chapel, located at 10610 Manchester Road in Kirkwood, Mo. Tony will be laid to rest at Green Haven Memorial Gardens in Canfield. Tony was born in Civitella Alfedena, Italy, on June 12, 1932, to Luigi and Angelina (Antonucci) DiPaolo. He immigrated to the United States in 1953 through Ellis Island, N.Y. Tony resided in Youngstown, where he worked for Superior Beverage Company. Tony was so proud to have graduated from Youngstown State University with a degree in Education. He then attended Westminster University in New Wilmington, Pa. where he studied Economics. It was in Youngstown where Tony met and married his wife of 54 years, Sonja (Koly). Tony worked for Japan Airlines in Cleveland, and was transferred to Indianapolis in 1968, where he took the position as sales manager. His employment with Japan Airlines transferred him to St. Louis in 1979, as a district manager. He enjoyed life with his family in Creve Coeur, Mo., where he surrounded himself with close friends, referred to as “La Famiglia.” Tony retired from Japan Airlines in 1990. He started his own company after he invented a cart return lock device system. While pursuing the development of his company, he began teaching Italian at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Tony was passionate about introducing SIUE students to the Italian language and culture. This passion was recognized by countless positive teacher evaluations and letters that he received from his students. Tony cherished a couple of summers where he was able to take students to Italy to experience an extensive tour of many towns and cities. He was a founding member of the Italian Cultural Association of Southern Illinois (ICASI). He started a student Italian Club, Il Respendore, and was instrumental in procuring an endowment to further Italian studies at SIUE. In 2013, Tony took a job at the St. Louis Art Museum as a gallery attendant. Tony is survived by his wife, Sonja (Koly) DiPaolo; his two daughters, Chiarina Iregui (Manuel) and Mara Bollini (Daniel); and his brother, Vilmo DiPaolo (Henrietta). He will be sadly missed by his four grandchildren, Nicholas, Benjamin and Caroline Iregui and Alexander Bollini. Besides his parents, Tony was preceded in death by his brother, Angelo; his sister-in-law, Erminia DiPaolo; his sister, Luisa DiPaolo; his brother-in-law, Alberto DiPaolo; and his aunt, Sister Chiarina Antonucci of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Memorial donations can be made in the name of Anthony DiPaolo to the Oblate Sisters of Sacred Heart, Villa Maria Teresa, 50 Warner Road, Hubbard, OH 44425; or to the Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis, 1058 Old Des Peres Road, St. Louis, MO 63131. Local arrangements have been entrusted to the Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave. in Boardman. Friends may visit the Book of Memories at www.rossifunerals.com to view this tribute and send condolences to Anthony’s family. - See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/tributes/search/#sthash.JHcymwDZ.dpuf