Anthony Cava

Lovingly called Tony by family and friends, he was born and raised in Italy. His parents, Nicola and Michelina (nee Pontrelli) Cava; predecease him. After school, Tony served in the Army and was an excellent mechanic, repairing tanks and airplanes. During his service, he was captured by the British and imprisoned for seven years as a prisoner of war. Upon his release, he ended his military service and returned home.

He married his sweetheart, the former Constance Pagliarulo and they began raising their family in Italy. While their children were still small, they emigrated to the United States. Tony worked hard his entire life. In the mid 1950's, he opened a Gas Station on Udall Road in West Islip and for ten years operated the station and repaired cars. Later, he opened Sun Shore Liquors on Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore. After many years in retail, he finally decided to retire. While family always came first, retirement saw Tony able to spend time with his loved ones, but now to truly devote time to the other things he adored. He loved spending hours in his garden; or getting into his boat and heading out to fish.

Surviving is his beloved wife, Connie; and their five children - Nicholas (Rosanne), Michael (Wanda), Tina Smith (Andrew), John (Joanne) and Anthony (Dawn). He was cherished by his 19 grandchildren - David (Audra) Cava, Kristen (David) Williamson, Peter, Russell (Lori) Pace, Carolann (Nicholas) Filocamo, Lauren (Matthew) Davis, Nicole (Mark) Hayward, Michael Cava, Joshua Smith, Krista (Scott) Ellis, Stephen Smith, Drew Smith, Daniel (Missy) Cava, Janine (Brian) Weaver, Adam (Veronica) Cava, Bethany Cava, Timothy Cava, Jaimee Cava and Luke Cava; and 18 great-grandchildren - Andrew, Emma, Grace, Rebekah, Joshua, Katlyn, and a newborn Williamson; Mary Caroline Ellis, Abigail and Nathaniel Weaver, Carmelo and Luca Pace, and Jessica, Nicholas and Joseph Filocamo. Also surviving is his brother, Vittorio and his wife, Maria Teresa; and his sisters, Graziella Cava-Milano (Carlo, deceased); and Nina Durnin and her husband, Bill. Pre-deceasing him is his brother Alfonso and his wife, Rose; his brother Giuseppe, survived by his wife Maria; and his sister, Maria Cian and her husband, Luigi.

Family and friends gathered at the D'Andrea Bros.Funeral Home in Copiague on Tuesday, September 6th from 2-4:30 and 7-9:30 p.m. On Wednesday, September 7th, a Funeral Mass was offered at Our Lady of the Assumption R.C. Church in Copiauge. Interment followed in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale.