Anthony J. Christofano, age 86, of Butler, passed away Tuesday at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born in Butler on August 29, 1930, he was the son of the late Pasquale and Giovannia Pascazi Christofano.

He was retired from Pullman Standard, where he was employed for 18 years as a press operator. He was also formerly employed at May Stern Furniture & Appliance Store, part-time at Coca Cola Bottling, Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV at Clarence Brown School, and as a driver for Butler Area Rural Transit (BART).

One of his greatest joys was attending all of the Butler High School football and basketball games with his four buddies. Since he was 10 years old, he was one of the biggest Notre Dame fans from Butler.

He was a member of Saint Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church and the 55 and Alive of St. Michael's.

He also belonged to the French and Belgium Club and the Italian Society of Butler. He was a past member of the Butler High Basketball Boosters and the Quarterback Club and he was a former bus driver for the General Butler Vagabonds.

He is survived by two sons, Anthony P. Christofano (Martin), of Mexico, and Michael D. Christofano (Janet), of Butler; three daughters , Theresa Wooldridge (Wayne), of Ellerslie, MD, Anna Marie Powers (Michael), of Butler, and Donna Majetich (John), of New Kensington; and one daughter-in-law, Barb Christofano, of Butler.

He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Josh Wooldridge, Dawn Parks, Joseph Christofano, Randy Christofano, Virginia Grossbauer, Nicholas Powers, and Stephen Powers; and nine great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Amanda, Leilanie, Kiley, John Jr., Brayden, twins Mason and Brayden, and Skylar.

His greatest friend of all was his loyal dog, Peppy.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances I. Warren Christofano, whom he married July 24, 1954, and who passed away November 28, 2007; one son, Joseph J. Christofano, Sr., who passed away November 2, 2006; and three sisters.

Friends will be received in the Martin Funeral Home, Inc., 429 Center Ave., Butler, on Friday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. from St. Michael the Archangel R.C. Church, 432 Center Ave., Butler.

Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery.

The Bereavement Group of St. Michael the Archangel Parish will meet at the funeral home on Friday at 3 p.m. to conduct a Scriptural Wake Service.