Tony Marazita, 79 of Sturgis and formerly of Niles, died Sunday evening Sept. 27, 2009, at the Borgess Medical Center in  Kalamazoo, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident that occurred Sept. 11, 2009.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the Holy Angels Catholic Church, 402 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, where the Rosary will be recited at 7:30  p.m.

The Funeral Mass celebrating the life of Tony Marazita will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Father Richard Altine officiating.

A graveside committal will follow the Mass at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, where full military rites will be conferred by Captain John J. Kelley  Post No. 1355 VFW and the U.S. Army Honor Guard.

He was born Nov. 1, 1929, in Niles, to the late Frank and Josephine (Tignanelli) Marazita.

Tony had resided in Sturgis since 1954 coming from Niles, where he graduated from Niles High School with the class of 1948.

On April 23, 1955 he married Delphine Zielinski at the St. Casmir’s Catholic Church in South Bend, Ind.

Following his graduation from high school Tony worked for his father’s business the Michigan Fruit Company. He went on to work at the Bendix Corporation in South Bend, Ind. before serving his country during World War II in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. After receiving his honorable discharge  he returned to the South Bend area and rejoined the Bendix Corporation.

In 1954, he established and opened the Mara Sweet Shop in Sturgis. Tony was involved in sales for many years including travel trailer sales which led to his love of travel. He was also the founder of the Marazita Candy Company.

Tony will be fondly remembered by many patrons of the Mara Sweet Shop and his many years of community service such as the Easter Egg Hunt at Oak Lawn Terrace Park. He was a faithful member Holy Angels Catholic Church where for many years he served daily Mass. He was devoted to the Blessed Mother and St. Anthony. Tony was a member of the Knights of Columbus No. 2508 and a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. He also held memberships in the National confectioners Association and Neuman-Wenzel Post No. 72 American Legion.

He was one of the University of Notre Dames biggest fans. Tony enjoyed his “Tuesday Card Club” and joking with his buddy, John Marshall.

One of Tony’s pride and joy was his grandchildren with whom he spent many hours sharing stories of his life growing up. Most of all he will be remembered for his love and support of all things St. Jude.

He will be missed not only by his family but by many community members of whose lives he had touched through the years. Even in the past two weeks, his only concern was his beloved Delphine and family.

He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 55 years, Delphine; four daughters, Cathy (Rick) Beach of Sturgis, Tamie (Larry) Baccoli of Rodney, Dawn (Richard) Russell of Milan and Tina (Lon) Morency of Sturgis; seven grandchildren, Andrea Russell of Oscoda, Paul Beach of Lansing, Christopher Russell of Milan, Alexandra Beach of Albion, Chantalle Morency of Kalamazoo, Connor Morency of Sturgis and Dominique Beach of Sturgis; one sister; Virginia Marazita of Niles; two brothers, Phil (Ellie) Marazita of Lansing and Warren (Mary) Marazita of Niles; sisters-in-law; Kathleen Marazita of Buchanan and Irene Marazita of Niles and many nieces and nephews.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Mary; and six brothers, Joseph, Paul, Ernie, Dominick, John and Albert.

Memorial donation may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38015 or Holy Angels Catholic Church, 402 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091.

The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.

Arrangements were by the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, Sturgis.