Anthony "Tony" Petricca

Anthony “Tony” Petricca, age 91, of Ocean Springs passed away peacefully on March 11, 2025.

Tony was born on June 17, 1933, in Chicago, IL where he grew up and worked in the family’s Italian restaurant for most of his younger years. It was at his mother’s funeral that he met his beloved wife, Jean Ann Tufo. They were married in 1953 and promptly moved to San Diego for three years where Tony served in the US Marine Corps during the Korean War. Upon returning to Chicago, Tony and Jean started a family and had four children. Missing the idyllic San Diego weather, they decided to move their family to San Diego in 1972 and opened an Italian restaurant of their own where the whole family worked together.

Tony and Jean remained in San Diego until they retired to Ocean Springs in 2002 where they continued to be active in the church and community. Tony was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He also volunteered at the Lord is my Help for several years.

Tony was a lover of people; he always had a story or a joke to tell and was always the biggest personality in the room. He also loved sports. Especially the Chicago White Sox, but his number one team was the San Diego Padres. He would attend many games. Let’s just say he was a very “enthusiastic” fan.

Tony was a man of faith. He was always active in his church as a greeter and would offer to serve mass and fill in wherever the Priest needed him. He was a member of The Knights of Columbus. Tony also walked and prayed his rosary every day until he could no longer walk. Then he would pray it anyplace he could. He prayed for the greatest loves of his life, his wife of seventy-one years, his children, grandchildren. Great-grandchildren, and a plethora of nieces and nephews that he was sure needed the extra prayers. He even kept a list of his petitions at his bedside.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Francesca Petricca; daughter-in-law, Lisa Petricca; granddaughter-in-law, Katelyn Walker Petricca; as well as many other loved ones including eight older brothers and sisters who were all patiently waiting for him to join them in the Lord’s heavenly kingdom.

Survivors include his love wife, Jean Ann Tufo; four children, Andrea (Rich) Harter, Cathy (Kyle) Nudson, Mary (Curt) DiMatteo, and Tony (Gina) Petricca; sister-in-law, Marilyn (Bob) Biede; thirteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to The Pinc (Prove It’s Not Cancer) Foundation to support breast cancer and to honor Katelyn Walker Petricca. www.pincfoundation.org

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Ocean Springs. Friends may visit one hour prior. The mass will be streamed on the Church’s Facebook page. Interment will take place at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego on June 17, 2025. Details to follow.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Anthony “Tony” Petricca.