FISHKILL-Antonio Russo passed away at home surrounded by the love of his family and friends on Sunday, December 30, 2012.

He was born at home in the Bronx on December 15, 1925. Tony met Mary in grade school, announced his intention to marry her in high school and when he returned from Okinawa after serving in the Marines during WWII, Tony married the love of his life, Mary Ellen Groen and they spent close to 65 years together. "Spike" loved Mary with all his heart and she loved him right back. Mary passed away on October 20, 2012, after a long illness and they are together again, forever.

Tony is survived by his two loving daughters, JoAnne Reinhardt and her husband Raymond of Wappingers Falls and Mary Ellen Douglas and her husband C.B. of Patterson; his grandchildren, Matthew Reinhardt, Charlie Douglas, and Tina Douglas; his brothers and sisters, Vincent Russo of the Bronx, Nicholas Russo of Phoenix, AZ, Rosalie Hall of Naples, FL, and Grace Hunt of Royalston, MA; and many nieces and nephews. Tony was also predeceased by his daughter, Susan Rose Russo in 2005; his brothers, Alfred, Frank, and John Russo; and his sisters, Frances Tarantino and Carol Goodwin.

He loved his family and worked his entire life in the family business, Russo Brothers Bakery on Morris Park Avenue in the Bronx. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather to the last days of his life, always thinking of others. He was kind, soft-spoken, and a gentle man. Dad taught us always to do the right thing and that is how he lived his life.

Tony enjoyed golf and played as much as he could. He also played and taught tennis and was a league bowler for many years. He lived a long, wonderful life and touched many people in his kind and loving way. We will miss him every day.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill. Interment will follow at Fishkill Rural Cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice Foundation, Inc., 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or the American Heart Association, 1 Union Street, #301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691-4183.

For directions, memorial donations, or online condolences, please visit Tony's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.

There are no affiliations for Antonio Russo