NORWAY – Anthony F. “Tony” DePerte, 70, of 21 Cottage St., Norway, died unexpectedly Monday afternoon, Oct. 18, at his home.

He was born and raised in Waukegan, Ill., (hometown of Jack Benny, his favorite comedian,) on Dec. 30, 1933, the son of Peter DePerte and Beatrice Sacramento DePerte.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He worked at Abbott’s Laboratory in Illinois for 22 years. He met his beloved wife, Rose when he came to Maine for a wedding and they were married in June 1974. They moved back to Illinois for a year and then returned to Maine in 1975.

“Tony” went to work at C.B. Cummings and Sons in Norway in 1975, and worked until its closing in 2002. He was a head fireman in the boiler room, a job that he took extreme pride in and was a dedicated worker for 27 years. He gave 100 percent to this job and went the extra mile, as he did with everything, whether it be home repairs and renovations or helping around the house. He would never quit until any job was done and done right.

He enjoyed playing the lottery, trips to Foxwoods Casino, family gatherings, gardening and astronomy. He was proud of his Italian heritage and loved all those Italian things: lots of food, good wine, Dean Martin, old movies, dancing and the “Godfather” movies. He lived every minute of life as if it was a celebration. He always wanted to make people laugh, even during the saddest of times. He loved to chat, laugh and joke with people. He cheered on the Red Sox and the Patriots. He was the most loving and “craziest” Italian we ever knew. God bless him. He was a wonderful husband, devoted father and grandfather, uncle, family member and friend and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Rose; his daughter, Alana and stepson, Brent, all of Norway; a friend and father-in-law, Lloyd D. Herrick; a son, Martin (Pat) DePerte, of Illinois; a daughter, Michelle (Don) Brewington, of Illinois; four sisters, Elizabeth (David) Tilley, of Norway, Angie (John) Lazzaretto and Sarah (the late Jack) Kelley, both of Illinois, and Martha (the late Tony) Pappas, of Arkansas; a sister-in-law, Sylvia (the late Joseph) DePerte of Illinois; a brother-in-law, Lloyd C. “Skip” (Deborah) Herrick; sisters-in-law, Gloria (Glenn) Whittier and Betty (Jeff) King; many nieces and nephews; five grandchildren; his favorite “aunt” Rose M. Smith; and his most cherished friends, Paul and Linda Bourgoin, of Sabattus.

He was predeceased by his mother, Beatrice DePerte Merchant, his father, Peter DePerte, his stepfather, Harvey Merchant, his mother-in-law, Gloria N. Herrick, and in August of this year, his brother, Joseph DePerte, of Illinois.

Copy the Story Link