Tony Dimaria

Tony DiMaria, 84, of Waco, passed away Monday, December 28, 2009. Services will be 3 p.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., with Msgr. Mark Deering officiating. Private burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday prior to the service.

Tony was born in Waco to Jasper and Lena (Orlando) DiMaria, and married the former Katherine Cardonia in 1951 in Waco. As a young man he joined the operation of Jasper DiMaria & Son Bar-B-Que Restaurant, 105 Clifton Street, which had been started by his father in 1915. After his father retired, Tony operated the business until he retired in 1990. Together he and his father had operated the restaurant for 75 years. Throughout his life, he found his greatest happiness through involvement with his family and church. He was a member of St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church, where he was active with the Knights of Columbus and helped run the Knight of Columbus Church Bingo for 40 years. Tony was always kind and generous to help family and friends in need, and he loved being with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine DiMaria; a son, Anthony J. DiMaria and his wife, Cathy of Anchorage, Alaska, and three granddaughters, Christina Louise Peterson and husband, Kory of Norfolk, Va., Toni Lynn Griffin and husband, Matthew of Seattle, Wash., and Carrie Elizabeth DiMaria of Anchorage, Alaska.

The family expresses thanks to St. Catherine's Center and Providence Hospice for their care.

Memorials may be made to the St. Mary's Knights of Columbus Council, 1401 Washington Avenue, Waco, TX 76701.