Obituary of Anthony Priano, Jr

GENEVA - Anthony "Tony" Priano Jr. joined his wife in Heaven on March 28, 2023 at the age of 87. He was surrounded by his loving family and passed peacefully at the Living Center at Geneva North. Family and friends may call from 1 pm to 4 pm and 6 pm to 8pm on Monday (April 3) at the Palmisano-Mull Funeral Home LLC, 28 Genesee Street, Geneva. A mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 pm Tuesday (April 4) at St. Stephen Church, 48 Pulteney Street, Geneva. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Francis-St. Stephen's School at 17 Elmwood Place, Geneva, NY 14456, or Our Lady of Peace Parish, 130 Exchange St. Geneva, NY 14456. Tony was born on February 26, 1936, to Anthony J. Priano Sr. and Mary (Schiera) Priano in Geneva, NY. He was a lifelong resident and a graduate of DeSales High School. He proudly served his country in the US Army from 1955 to 1957, stationed in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he met his wife, Ida Owens Priano. They were married directly after his honorable discharge and settled in his hometown of Geneva, NY. Tony worked multiple jobs over the years, including as an aide at the VA Hospital in Canandaigua, NY, in the engineering office of Ontario County, and as Director of Facilities at DeSales High School. He owned and operated Priano's Home Improvement in the 1980s and more recently could be seen greeting customers at Geneva's Walmart. His favorite and most important job was that of School Crossing Guard, where he greeted, crossed, cared for, and created nicknames for the many students of St. Francis-St. Stephen's School for more than 20 years. He was well-known as an avid supporter of the Catholic schools in Geneva, spending countless hours planning festivals, tearing up gymnasium floors, holding fundraisers, and hosting Bingo games. In addition to being a member of our Lady of Peace Parish, St. Stephen's Church, Tony was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Sons of the American Legion, and the Hydrant Hose Fire Department. He is survived by his children, Sharon (George) Abbott, Cynthia Priano, Kathleen (Patrick) Vishneski, Mary Beth (Greg Scrooby) Phillips, and Anthony J. Priano II; grandchildren, Amanda (Daniel) Rago, Amber Phillips, and Allison Phillips, Anna and Amelia Abbott, Anthony J. Priano III, Alexa Priano, and Sophie Priano; great-grandchildren, Camden and Meigh Gould, Graham and Luke Rago; nephew William Free and niece Katherine Blake; cousin Vicki Tyler and several great nephews, nieces and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife, Ida Owens Priano, brother John D. Priano, and sister, Marie Free; several sisters-in-law in South Carolina.