Thomas Fanara

Thomas Fanara, age 95, lived a long and blessed life built on faith, love for his family, and finding pleasure in the simple things. Most of all, Tom found happiness in 68 years of marriage to his beloved wife, Elizabeth whom he fondly referred to as Betty Anne.

Tom grew up in a small Ohio town where he became an avid outdoorsman. A skilled hunter and fisherman, he enjoyed talking to and teaching his grandchildren the fine art of fishing. Tom served in the Army during the Korean war, and he and Betty enjoyed frequenting the many VFW's, and summer festivals around their hometown of Euclid, Ohio where everybody knew their names.

Tom was a tinkerer and would often be seen on a tall ladder painting the house or under the hood of one of his prized old cars. Plumbing, electrical, carpentry, it didn't matter, Tom was the ultimate do-it yourself man. But his favorite hobby was baseball. Tom grew up on baseball spending the winter waiting for spring training and the new season. Afternoons with the Tribe, evenings with the Braves or late nights with the Dodgers, if the game was on, he watched it.

The foundation of Tom's life was faith and family. A dedicated Catholic, Tom could be seen each week escorting Betty into church 45-minutes early so they could sit in the same seat. Tom was committed to Mother Mary and the rosary, spending time each day in prayer until the very end.

Tom's legacy lives in his five daughters whom he raised in a three-bedroom house in Euclid, making sure "his girls" attended Catholic schools and taking them on family drives to his hometown of Maynard where they would walk the old train tracks together. Tom relished his role as a grandfather as his face would beam with quiet joy each time he saw his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Tom is survived by his daughters Celine, Anne, Mary, Angela and Carla, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth, brothers Angelo and Anthony his sister Mary and his grandson Robby.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 23rd at 11:00am followed by a Catholic burial service at 12:00pm at Waite Funeral Home, 3300 Center Road in Brunswick Ohio 44212. Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery, Valley City.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Ambrose School Angel Scholarship fund.