Anthony F. 'Tony' Grenci Sr.
Anthony F. “Tony” Grenci Sr., 91, of Butler passed away Wednesday at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Born Oct. 12, 1919, in Lake Trade, near Hilliards, he was the son of the late Luigi “Louis” Grenci, who emigrated from Ardore, Italy and Catherine Trombetta (Trombatt). Anthony was the eldest and last surviving of six brothers.
Anthony moved to Butler at the age of 10. Displaying entrepreneurial spirit at a very young age, he sold newspapers on a street corner on Main Street and won an award for having the most customers.
He graduated from Butler High School in 1936 at the age of 16. After high school, he started a successful shoe supplies business, wholesaling to cobblers, but had to give up the business when he was called for service in World War II.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army May 22, 1942. He was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he was a technical sergeant for the Office of Strategic Services. The OSS was formed in World War II to send spies into enemy territory and was a precursor to the CIA.While in the Army, he attended a USO dance on Feb. 4, 1945, and met Rita Florida Dansereau, from Brockton, Mass., who was in the Marines. In his words, “It was love at first sight.” Their wedding took place Oct. 21, 1945, just 8½ months after they met, and they were married for more than 60 years. On their honeymoon, they danced to one of his favorite bandleaders, Guy Lombardo, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.While in Washington, D.C., Anthony met Frank Sinatra, another of his favorite entertainers, who was performing for the service members and got his autograph.After the war ended, he and Rita settled in Butler. People were no longer having their shoes repaired, so he embarked on starting a second business. With his wife as a business partner, they opened up a card and gifts store, The Remembrance Shop, in downtown Butler.In the early 1950s, he decided to go strictly wholesale and established yet another business that he called the A.F. Grenci Co. He converted to religious goods, whereby he and his wife made their own rosaries. The Grencis started with nothing and ultimately created a thriving business.In the late 1960s, he retooled the A.F. Grenci Co. to include the sale of bridal supplies. He enjoyed working for his company and continued to do so until he was in his 80s.He attended the St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, where he was a lifelong member and served as an usher.More important than anything to him were his wife, his nine children and their families. He always stressed to his children the importance of education.He was very proud of his family and his business, and he loved to tell stories about living in Lake Trade and serving in the war.In addition to being a devoted family man, he was a member of the Italian Club and the Knights of Columbus.
He enjoyed listening to the music of Bing Crosby as well as the big band sounds of the 1940s. Extremely interested in photography, he amassed a huge collection of family photographs and home movies. Known for his sharp memory, in 2006 he recounted his life story to his daughter.He is survived by his nine children, Mary (Michael) Zima, Annette (Ronald) Salsovic, David (Sherry) Grenci, Anthony (Brenda) Grenci Jr., Louis (Terri) Grenci, John (Elvira) Grenci, Richard (Celeste) Grenci, Denise (Brett) Shank, and Christine Grenci (Jason Weigle).He also is survived by a sister-in-law, Helen Grenci; 23 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a number of nieces, nephews and cousins; and two devoted aides, Diane Hildebrand and Brenda Reott.He was preceded in death by his wife, Rita Grenci, who died March 4, 2006. He also was preceded in death by his five brothers, Joseph, Mario, Earl, Dominic and Robert Grenci.
<B>GRENCI </B>— Friends of Anthony F. “Tony” Grenci Sr., who died Wednesday, July 6, 2011, will be received in the <B>Martin Funeral Home</B>, 429 Center Ave., Butler, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. at the St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church. Entombment will take place in the St. Michael Cemetery Mausoleum.The Bereavement Group of the St. Michael the Archangel Parish will meet at the funeral home at 3 p.m. Friday to conduct a scriptural wake service.Information also is available at www.martinfh.net.
