Anthony J. Marra

1953 - 2021

Anthony J. 'Tony' Marra

OLEAN - Anthony J. "Tony" Marra, of 1690 Haskell Parkway, passed away Sunday (Aug. 1, 2021) at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, in Buffalo, surrounded by his loving family.

Born Jan. 21, 1953, in Olean, he was the son of Antonio J. and Janet Firkel Marra. On Aug. 18, 1973, at St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany, he married Marilyn K. Henton, who survives.

Tony was a 1971 graduate of Portville Central School and attended culinary school at Alfred State College.

Always a hard worker, he began in the restaurant business at the young age of 12, assisting his father at Antonio's Italian Garden. In 1969, he continued with his father, at their new location in the west end of Olean.

He worked for a year, for Louie Marra at The Old Library Restaurant, and then for Jim McAfee at the Beef 'N Barrel. In 1992, he and his wife opened The Bird Cage on Main Street in Allegany, later moving to a newer location on Main Street in 2017.

In March of this year, he and his wife made the difficult, but necessary decision to close their restaurant, due to Tony's worsening health. He was the last of the Marra family to operate a full-menu, sit-down restaurant in the Olean area, with Tito Marra still offering light fare, at Tito's Restaurant and Bar in Olean.

He loved operating his restaurant for his loyal customers over the years, many of whom became his friends. In addition to his dedication to his restaurant business, he enjoyed operating Lionel trains, watching movies of any genre, and especially being around his family, particularly his grandchildren.

Surviving are his wife Marilyn, with whom he was nearing 48 years of marriage; two daughters, Nicole (Tommy) Lippert of Duke Center, Pa. and Michelle (Colin) Sullivan of Olean; four grandsons, Dennis Martinelli, II, Shay Lippert, Samuel Lippert and Tristen Lippert; a surrogate daughter, Annie McCarthy (Steve) Kriner of Duke Center; five surrogate grandchildren, Nick, Courtney, Kayla, Rowan and Caden; two brothers, Demitreo Marra of Olean and Michael (Carol) Marra of Rochester; a sister, Ann (Rick) Buffington of Portville; many nieces and nephews; and two special brothers-in-law, Joseph Horning of Ohio and Chuck Henton of Portville.

He was predeceased by both his parents.

Friends are welcome to a memorial visitation from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 8, 2021) at St. Bonaventure Church. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. in the church. The Rev. James Vacco, OFM, pastor, will be the celebrant.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Ann Bushnell, who assisted with weekly nursing care during the three years of his illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, 665 Elm St., Buffalo, NY 14203 or to Kevin Guest House, 782 Ellicott St., Buffalo, NY 14203.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.

Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.