Obituary of Anthony A. LaBarbera

Anthony Andrew "Tony" or "Mr. Tony" LaBarbera, 90, of Lakeland, FL, formerly of Jamestown, NY, passed away at 9:30 am Sunday, May 16, 2021, at his summer home in Lakewood, NY. A native of Jamestown, he was born April 23, 1931 in Jamestown, NY, a son of the late Anthony J. and Mary Lombardo LaBarbera. Tony was a 1949 graduate of Jamestown High School and earned his BBA Degree in accounting in 1953 from St. Bonaventure University where he served as a second lieutenant in the Army ROTC Program. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army serving from August 28, 1953 to May 27, 1955, where he was a member of the artillery unit during the Korean War. He continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves for 10 years and was commissioned as a Major. In 1955, Tony married Antoinette "Toni" Lesante LaBarbera of Pittsburgh, PA, the love of his life and "Tony and Toni" became inseparable. Together they built a family and she became his guardian angel. After his college years, he worked for Carborundum for a couple years as an accountant and then started working for his father, Anthony Sr. for the ABC Plumbing Company. The plumbing business provided for his family and when his father died in 1968, he purchased the company from his mother. He provided plumbing services to the Jamestown community until August 1982 when Tony, Toni, and Mary Beth were in a life changing car accident that almost took Tony's life. He was in the hospital in Pittsburgh for over 15 months. Tony was blessed that his son George kept the business operating during this most difficult time. After a long recovery he and Toni became snowbirds and began spending time in Florida. He fulfilled a long-time dream and worked with his three sons, Anthony, George, and Thomas to build the Country View Estates residential subdivision and was so proud of this endeavor. Tony loved spending time in Florida with Toni and all the new friends they made. He also loved stopping by to see his son Anthony and his wife Kathleen and their four children in Vienna, VA during their travels back and forth from Florida. But throughout all his travels he loved to return to the Jamestown area to be with his kids, family, and his lifelong friends. Tony was a communicant of St. James Catholic Church and was in the first class of eucharistic ministers for the distribution of holy communion. He also attended Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Frewsburg while living with is daughter Mary Beth DiMaio and son-in-law Alex and grandson, Brandon. He was a former member of the Marco Polo Club, Jamestown Moose Lodge, Moon Brook Country Club, Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, the Jamestown Sertoma Club and the Samuel Derby Post American Legion, Frewsburg, and the Jamestown Master Plumbers Association. He loved to golf with his long-time friends, "The Quarterback Club" (which became a golf tournament club) in Jamestown at the Cable Hollow Golf Club. He also loved bowling for the Elks Lodge and the Knights of Columbus. Surviving is his wife of 65 years, Antoinette (Toni) Lesante LaBarbera whom he married October 15, 1955, his four children; Anthony (Kathleen) LaBarbera of Vienna, VA, George (Barb) LaBarbera of Sugar Grove, PA, Mary Beth (Alex) DiMaio of Frewsburg, NY, Thomas (Beth) La Barbera of Garland, PA, his nine grandchildren whom he cherished; Wesley LaBarbera of Jamestown, Holly (Chris) Hackett of West Ellicott, Brandon (Erika) DiMaio of Frewsburg, Anthony (engaged to Isabel Jalai) LaBarbera of New York City, Michael (Kelsey) LaBarbera of Vienna, VA, Christine LaBarbera of Charlotte, NC, Daniel LaBarbera of New York City, Tommy (Samantha) LaBarbera, Kaylea LaBarbera both of Garland, PA and his sister, Dolores "Dolly" Chimera of Jamestown. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Joseph L. Chimera who died January 18, 2021. A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am Friday in St. James Catholic Church. The Rev. Darrell Duffy, pastor will be celebrant. Inurnment will be in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Visitation will not be observed. Memorials may be made to the St. James Catholic Church, 27 Allen St. Jamestown, NY 14701, the St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place. Memphis, TN 38105 or to a charity of one's choice. You may leave words of condolence to Tony's family at www.lindfuneralhome.com.