Deacon Tony Ferretti served for 36 years

Deacon Anthony “Tony” J. Ferretti, a native of New Orleans who served as a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for 36 years, died Dec. 22 at the age of 86.

Deacon Ferretti was ordained a permanent deacon on Dec. 10, 1983, at St. Louis Cathedral by Archbishop Philip M. Hannan. He served at Our Lady of Divine Providence in Metairie from 1983-94 and at St. John the Baptist Church in Folsom from 1994-95. Since 1995, Deacon Ferretti served at Mary Queen of Peace until his retirement in 2010.

Deacon Ferretti and his late wife Maxine, who were married for 26 years, served on the parish’s RCIA committee for many years and imparted their knowledge and love of the Catholic faith to many.

Deacon Ferretti served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean conflict.

He is survived by his stepsons, G. Paul Nelson Jr. and David J. Nelson (Angela) and  his stepdaughters Kathleen Mims (Michael) and Laura N. Roycroft. He is also survived by his sister, Esther Ferretti Lingoni; his niece, Brenda Lingoni Woodin; his two nephews, Joseph Klumpp and Johnny Klumpp; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 27 at Mary Queen of Peace Church. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, the Covington Food Bank or the archdiocesan community of deacons.