Anthony Theodore Mirenda

Anthony "Tony" Mirenda Jr, patriarch of the Mirenda Family, passed away Monday, February 4, 2019, in Houston. He was born May 7, 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife of 59 years, Carldeen "Dena" Denson Mirenda, met in Kilgore College at the Rangerette -Football Player Dance.
Tony served in the United States Air Force from 1961 until 1965. In 1976 Tony began his career at Shell Oil and was a supervisor, operator, facilitator and a part of the Emergency Response Team. While at Shell Oil he developed the interplant emergency response program and facilitated team workshops successfully at Shell Deer Park Refinery for over 35 years.
Faith was an integral part of Tony's life. He served as the President of the church council, was a member of the choir and was the Director of the Ways and Means Committee at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Pasadena, Texas where he delivered communion and worked at Loaves and Fishes, the homeless food bank. In the past year Tony started a Veteran’s program which helped to secure benefits for widows and older vets living in their independent living facility.
Tony is survived by a family that will miss him very much: his wife, Dena Mirenda; daughter, Mary Mirenda Wendt and her husband, Frederick "Ted" Wendt; son, Anthony C. Mirenda III and his wife, Rachael Mirenda, all of Houston, Texas; grandson, Anthony "Alec" Alexander Mirenda IV and his wife, Chelsea Lauren Hughes of Houston, Texas; grandson, John Christian Wendt, currently at Columbus AFB; and his granddaughter, Breanna Mae Mirenda of Houston, Texas. Tony also has twin great granddaughters, Emberleigh and Cecileigh, who he adored.
The family will receive friends for a time of visitation Sunday, the 10th of February, 2019, from 2 o’clock until 4 o’clock in the afternoon in the Garden Court of Welch Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, February 11th, at 11 o’ clock in the morning at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Longview, Texas. Burial will immediately follow in Elmira Cemetery.
In lieu of customary remembrances the family requests with gratitude that memorials be made to a Veteran's group of your choice like K-9 Warriors or Wounded Warriors.