Anthony 'Tony' Farinella Obituary ANTHONY 'TONY' PAUL FARINELLA Anthony (Tony) Paul Farinella, 56, passed away suddenly at his home in Mound, Minnesota. His life ended peacefully, though far too soon. Tony lived a life defined by love for his family and friends. Born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, Tony was the beloved son of Michael and Agnes Farinella. He is survived by his wife of nearly 20 years, Erica (Ellsworth) Farinella of Mound; his son, Jack Farinella of Mound; his daughter, Lauren Farinella of Mound; and his daughters Madison and Nicole Farinella of Fargo, North Dakota. He is also survived by his brother, Mike Farinella (Samantha) of Palisade; his brother, Paul Farinella (Debby) of Forest Lake; his sister, Theresa Farinella of St. Cloud; and many cherished nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends whose lives were enriched by his kindness and warm smile. Tony graduated from Irondale High School in 1987-1988. He began working at the age of 14 and never missed a day on the job. While attending the University of Minnesota, he discovered his true passion in the hospitality industry, where his friendly nature and welcoming smile made every customer feel at ease. For more than 20 years, Tony worked his way up at TGI Fridays in Golden Valley, serving as Bar and Front of House Manager. It was there that he met Erica, and they married in 2005. In 2017, Tony joined Caribou Coffee and quickly rose to become General Manager of two Caribou locations at MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport. Known for his hands-on leadership, Tony could always be found greeting customers, supporting his team, and helping build two of Caribous most successful stores. Despite his professional achievements, Tonys greatest joy came from time spent with his family and friends. He loved celebrating Laurens successes in Irish dance, remodeling his home alongside his father and son, and watching football together in the house they had built. Tonys passions included cheering for the Vikings and Gophers with Jack, fishing, watching movies with Lauren, binge-watching shows, and walking the familys Springer spaniels with Erica. He was a proud member of Wayzata Community Church and had a wide circle of friends from TGI Fridays, Caribou Coffee, and the Mound American Legion Hall. Tonys smile, laughter, and generous spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew him. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 20, at 10:00 a.m. at Wayzata Community Church in Wayzata. A private family burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.