Anthony A DiBiasio

of Cranston, R.I. passed away on Saturday, November 29 after a one-month illness and 92 years of good health, good fortune, good times, great impact and much love.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ines (Ricci) DiBiasio; their four children - Michael DiBiasio (Lynn), Maria DeLuca (Norman), Anthony J. DiBiasio (Donna) and David DiBiasio; his five grandchildren - Michael, Daniel, Haley, Margaret & Jessica; and his four great-grandchildren - Adelie, Zara, Fiona and Esme. He was the brother of the late Olga Russo, Alice Mandarini and Fred DiBiasio.

A proud son of Italian immigrants in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Providence, R.I., Anthony built a rich and rewarding life through tenacity, willpower, hard work, native intelligence and the sheer force of his personality. He built a business from scratch, a home with his own hands, and a family with all his heart.

Anthony was a larger-than-life personality whose mission in life was to build an even better one for his family. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was a successful entrepreneur, a person of great faith and pride, a fiercely devoted family man, and a unique character who left an indelible impression on everyone he met.

In 1963, Anthony founded Michael Distributing, a snack-food distribution company that was sold to Utz Brands in 2011. As a young man with big dreams and no head start, he left his job and started his own business selling snacks, one day and one store at a time. He was a fearless competitor, a creative entrepreneur, and a businessman whose cost-consciousness and attention to detail would become legendary. Over the course of the next 48 years, he built a thriving and successful family business.

For Anthony, his business was the means and not the end: More important were his faith and his family. His faith was deep, authentic and unshakeable, and only strengthened by his curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning. He shared his faith and always commended its virtues to others – but never without the kind and open heart that was at his core. He was a devoted communicant of St. Rocco’s church in Johnston, RI.

The center of Anthony’s life was his wife of 68 years, Ines. Their marriage could have been a sitcom, given its truly unique character and the give-and-take and good humor that were its hallmarks. But, most of all, it was a love story – a young man and a young woman, who fell deeply in love and grew old together, built a family and a life, traveled the world together, and held each other’s hand, through thick and thin, until the very end.

Anthony’s devotion to Ines became a true inspiration when, in his late eighties, he assumed the role of caregiver – a “very good caregiver,” according to Ines. He became more, not less, independent; he learned new skills and rediscovered old ones; and he woke up every day determined to be by her side and to fight for her, which he did, with his customary determination and attention to detail.

Anthony DiBiasio was a very special person whose gift was how deeply he cared. He touched everyone he met – from good friends and family, to nurses, doctors, priests, waiters, waitresses, clerks, salespeople and strangers he met on the street – with his kindness, empathy and humor, as well as his charming quirks and foibles. He loved historical documentaries and classic movies. He was the life of the party and enjoyed the occasional vodka martini and steak alla mamma; he could light up a room, take center stage, and demand the microphone – and still leave everyone hoping for more. He was a great teller of stories and even tall tales.

Anthony will be remembered as a person who gave much and took little. He was always generous and charitable. He was deeply loved and will be sorely missed, especially by his family. He leaves a legacy of success, faith, love and sacrifice. He was proud and deserved to be. And he did all of it his way.

His funeral will be held on Saturday at 11am from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory 1278 Park Avenue followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Rocco’s Church Atwood Avenue, Johnston at 12:30pm. Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS Saturday morning from 10am to 11:30am. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the RI Food Community Food Bank 200 Niantic Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 or the Little Sisters of the Poor 964 Main Street Pawtucket, RI 02860.