Anthony Thomas Yanniello, 81, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2011 with his loving daughter Katherine, and daughter-in law Beth, by his bedside. His suffering finally ended, and we all know that he is where he truly wants to be – in heaven with his wife, Mae.
Anthony, often referred to as Tom, Tommy, and/or Tony, was born in Mays Landing, New Jersey on March 28, 1930. He graduated from Holy Spirit High School in 1947 where he lettered in both basketball and baseball. His mother passed away when he was young. He was out on his own at seventeen, pursuing a dream to play major league baseball, playing with the Athletics organization. His plans were thwarted when he traveled to Miami Beach on his way to play winter baseball in Cuba. There, he met and fell in love with the woman of his dreams, Mae. Cuba never happened, he never looked back, and baseball became a distant memory. Together they traveled to Kentucky to meet her family, and then on to Mays Landing to meet his. Out of money to return to Miami Beach, Tom put Mae on a bus to go to an apartment for which he had prepaid, promising to meet her there. How did he return? He hitchhiked. Soon after, they married and started a family. The rest is history. To say their love was endless is an understatement.
In Miami Beach, Tom began what became a very successful window washing business. He had contracts with all of the beautiful major hotels (The Eden Roc, The Fontainebleau and The Deauville to name a few) on what is now known as “South Beach” as well as the horse tracks in the South Florida area. This led to their love of horses, and owning a not-so-winning horse, Sum Bull for a period of time. They loved going to the track on Saturdays and sitting in the Turf Club urging their horse to win!
Together they raised a beautiful family of five children. Tom provided for his family through tough times, putting all five of his children though private Catholic school. He was on the School Board at their parochial schools and volunteered at the Church carnivals and was the caller at Bingo in the parish hall. He was involved in his children’s extra-curricular activities including judo, baseball, basketball, football, cheerleading and volleyball. Together, they instilled a strong sense of family values in their children that abides to this day.
Tom lived his life to please his wife and put her needs first. He lavished her with trips to the Bahamas, Las Vegas, Venezuela, Mexico, California, Key West, as well as visits to their grandchildren in Texas. He thrived on surprising her. They attended many concerts and shows together including Frank Sinatra, Engelbert Humperdinck, Kenny Rogers, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, and Phantom of the Opera to name a few. He showered her with beautiful jewelry and clothes. In his eyes, she was the most beautiful woman in the world. At her funeral, he said he couldn’t understand why God thought he deserved such a beautiful woman.
They suffered together when their first-born son, Tony, a Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy was killed in the line of duty. They comforted each other and their children through many of life’s tragedies. He took care of Mae truly as the marriage vows state – “in sickness and in health ‘til death do us part”. When her health started to fail, he was at her side and was her sole caretaker for the last 15 years of her life; a feat some men couldn’t handle. He wouldn’t accept “no” from anyone when it came to providing the best care for her. He was a strong, opinionated, passionate man and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to protect his family. He once went after a guy that was “flashing” his teenage daughter with a baseball bat. Maybe baseball wasn’t such a distant memory!
His family will always remember him telling hilarious stories about his clumsiness, his stubborn demeanor and his expressive use of the English language!
Tom eventually moved to the Dallas, Texas area to be with his grown children and grandkids. He complained all the time about how cold it was in Dallas! But he knew that is where Mae wanted to be and that’s where they lived the last few years of their lives; surrounded by their loving children and grandchildren. Family dinners, gatherings, birthdays and graduations were not missed. As Mae’s health failed, the only concern he ever had was for her well-being. After she passed, Tom was worried about everyone else but himself, even up until the day before he joined his wife in heaven. Tom will be missed but not forgotten. A man of his word in business and in his personal dealings with others, his word was his bond. His legacy lives on.
Tom is pre-deceased by his wife of 61 years, Lillie Mae Yanniello; his parents, Anthony and Mary Yanniello; his son Tony Yanniello; and, his granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Yanniello. He is survived by his loving children, Michael, Patrick, Thomas and Katherine; his grandchildren, Tina, Anthony, Christopher, David, Michael, Stephen, Christina, Jennifer, Kaitlin, Tony and Ashley; his brother, William Yanniello of Falls Church, Virginia; and his sister, Marie Grossi of Milmay, New Jersey.
Family will receive friends at a visitation on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 from 7:00–9:00 pm at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 8011 Frankford Road, Plano, Texas 75252. A Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 3:00 pm at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, Texas 75023. Reception following in the parish hall.
If desired, memorials may be made in Tom’s name to the American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org.
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