Antonio Forina Candolfi

ANTONIO "TONY" FORINA - CANDOLFI
ALAMO - Antonio "Tony" Forina-Candolfi, 83, entered eternal rest Friday, October 8,
2021, at his home in Alamo, exactly how he wanted, surrounded by his wife and
children.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Amalia and Giuseppe Forina; a brother, Franz
Forina; and a sister, Luciana Iorio.
Tony is survived by his wife, Maria Elena Chaves Forina; four children, Maria Elena
Richards (John) of Alamo, Amalia Forina (Joaquin Pagan) of San Antonio, Jose "Pepe"
Forina (Margarita) of Alamo, Jorge Antonio "Tony" Forina (Miriam) of McAllen; 15
grandchildren, Marco Antonio, Jason (Mina), Mariela (Romeny), Kyle, Alexandra
(Stephen), Tyler (Ashley), Antonio, Maria Elena, Alicia, Jorge Gilberto, Joaquin, Justin,
Brian Keith, Antonella, Lidia; a great-grandson, Samuel Preston; four sisters, Rossetta
Caputo, Giovanna DiMaso, Ginnetta DiStanio, Marissa Grimaldi, all in Italy; and
numerous nephews and nieces.
Tony was born in Padula, Italy, and left home in the 1950's with his father and brother to start a new life in Cuba. It was there he met and married his bride of 60 years,
"Mariela". Always seeking a better life for his family, he secured Italian passports for his wife and two young daughters and fled to Mexico City in May 1966. Five months later, their first son was born. It was in Mexico City that he learned the jewelry manufacturing trade that eventually took him to Puerto Rico, where the last Forina child was born, and later New Jersey before making Alamo their home in 1978 and setting up his jewelry shop. Tony was an exceptional and loving husband, father, Nonno, businessman, and mentor to many that crossed his path. He unselfishly gave of himself without expectations. Tony knew no strangers; his infectious smile and charisma lit up the room as soon as
he walked in. He was REAL and not one to mince words, a trait he passed to his
children.
Visitation will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary Thursday, October 14,
2021, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Memorial mass will take place on Friday,
October 15, 2021, at 10 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church in Alamo. Interment of
cremated remains will follow at Roselawn Mausoleum in McAllen. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations to the Capuchin Poor Clare Sisters, (727 E Bowie Ave,
Alamo, TX 78516) or Resurrection Catholic Church (312 N. 9 th St, Alamo, TX 78516)
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.