Anthony Tognacci

Anthony Mario Tognacci, on Sunday, September 22, 86 year old life long Framingham resident, passed away quietly at his granddaughters home where he was being cared for by Lori and Ozzie Ortiz and their children after an extended illness. "Mario" to his friends and family, of whom there were many, had just lost his longtime companion Elizabeth (Betty) Stone last week. Betty's daughter Karen, husband Dale and sister's Margerie and Kay were very dear friends of Mario's. Mario was the son of the late Adelio and Giuseppina Tognacci. He was the brother of the late Ralph Tognacci, Joan (Jennie) Tognacci, Ferdnando Tognacci and Eugene Tognacci. He was the husband of the late Charlotte Southwick Fox. He leaves behind his brother Enrico and his wife Mary Tognacci, his ex-wife Katerina Tognacci and his children, Cheryl Tolan, Anthony Tognacci, Margot Tognacci, Valerie Tognacci-Lindholm and Joan Tognacci Hayward. He also leaves behind his Grandchildren, Dickie and David Tolan, Lori and Ozzie Ortiz, Donna Tognacci, Christina Tognacci, Michelle Tognacci, Heather Tognacci, Rebecca Tognacci, James Heer, John List, Jason and Joshua Johansen, Andrew and Katherine Lindholm and his great-grandchildren, Alycia Febus, Mariah Ross, Alex and Kelsey Ortiz. He will be missed by his many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Mario was very proud of his Army service as a Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery during the Second World War. He had been enjoying a long retirement after working over 25 years for the Water Department for the Town of Framingham. Mario was an avid gardener and maintained a garden into his 80's at Betty's house. He was a very serious competitor in many games of skill. Mario spent many years being the anchor of various dart teams in the area. He also enjoyed golf and bowling. Playing bocci and horseshoes with his brother Rico, son Butchie and nephew Rick. Mario enjoyed having a couple cheap beers and playing keno at the Amvets, Eagles, and Columbus Hall, beating his daughter Joanie at darts for a quarter a game and cheating at cards and board games with his children and Grandchildren. He was also a renown chef in the Bethany Road neighborhood where he spent much of his adult life, his claim to fame being his famous "Mario's Garbage". Mario loved music and would wake his kids up very early on Saturday mornings by playing his favorite Italian tunes. Another favorite pastime was debating politics and world philosophies with his daughter Valerie. Although Mario had earned the reputation as being a little tight with a buck, his very good friend Jack Scanlon (of whom Mario always spoke very highly) and St. Jude's Children's Hospital can attest to his great generosity. Mario's presence will be sincerely missed by all. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral on Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 9 AM from the Norton Funeral Home, 53 Beech St, (Corner of Union Ave.) Framingham, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 AM in St. Stephen's Church, 251 Concord St. (Rt. 126), and Framingham. Burial will follow at St. Tarcisius Cemetery, Framingham. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday from 5 | 8 PM. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38173. For online directions and guestbook please log onto nortonfuneralhome.com