Vincent Anthony Cannatella

It is with heavy hearts and the deepest of love that we announce the passing of Vincent Anthony Cannatella at age 91 on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025, with his wife of nearly 68 years, Marie Pepe Cannatella, his devoted children, and several grandchildren by his side. He was born in Melville, Louisiana on December 27, 1933. After his father’s death when he was 6 years old, the family moved to Baton Rouge, where he grew up attending Sacred Heart School and Catholic High School. He met Marie in 1955 marrying her in 1957, and by the following year their expansive family began. During their dating and early marriage, Vince was a member of the 769th Engineering Battalion for the Louisiana Army National Guard, serving as Master Sargent. In the 60s, he moved his family to Maryland, where he was Vice President of a mechanical contracting corporation called Atchison-Keller in Washington DC. Longing for more time with family and the Louisiana culture once again, he retired from the corporation and relocated back to Baton Rouge in 1973, where he opened the first Dunkin Donuts in the city. By 1976, he envisioned a café au lait and beignet shop where community could come together, and he opened his dream shop, Coffee Call, which has been a staple and an integral part of Baton Rouge residents and vacationers these 49 years. He was an active member of St. Jude Catholic Church, serving on their school board and serving as chairman of their annual fair for two years.

Survived not only by his devoted wife, Vince Cannatella also leaves behind five children, Debbie Cannatella (Fernando), Annette Beauvais (Jay), Claire Sanders (Stephen), Vincent “Vince” Cannatella II (Kristi), and John Cannatella (Robin); eight grandchildren, Brandi Catoire (David), Tarah Gregg (Michial), Kristel Watson (Chris), Travis LeBlanc, Rachel Gautreaux (Tyson), Megan White (Nathan), Vincent “Trey” Cannatella III (Kayla), and Kyle Cannatella (Laura); 10 great-grandchildren (with an 11th on the way); and two great-great grandchildren (with two more on the way). Also included in this large and loving Sicilian family are dozens of step-grandchildren and their offspring. He has one surviving sister, Mary Ann Raudales (Marco) and a sister-in-law, Florence Pepe. Preceded in death by his parents, Antonio “Tony” and Antonina “Annie” DiBenedetto Cannatella; his brothers, Joe Cannatella (Grace), Nick Cannatella (Rita); and sisters Phenie Jerome (Sam), Catherine Lushute (Mike), and Verna Gerace (Ciro).

Services will be held on Saturday, July 26th with visitation 10:00 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 pm at St. Jude Catholic Church, 9150 Highland Road in Baton Rouge. Interment will be at Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.

Our family would like to extend our thanks to Home Instead and the many caregivers that have assisted over these past years, as well as the Pinnacle Palliative Care and Hospice Care.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.