Anthony Brancella

Anthony Brancella, 79, of Tottenville, a retired NYPD officer and a devoted family man, died Sunday at home.

Born in Brooklyn, he lived in Bay Ridge. He moved to Great Kills in 1970 and to Tottenville in 1975.

Mr. Brancella served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953, seeing duty in the Korean War.

He had a 20-year career with the city Police Department, and was a member of the Emergency Service Unit's Emergency 5. He retired in 1985.

Mr. Brancella enjoyed spending time with his family.

He was a train enthusiast and collector and also enjoyed traveling and collecting coins. He was handy and enjoyed building things around the house. He also enjoyed being with his dogs.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, the former Rose DellaMonica; his sons, Anthony Jr. and John; his daughters, Diane Carestia and Stephanie Quinones, and eight grandchildren.

The funeral will be Wednesday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, with a mass at 11:30 a.m. in Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church, both Tottenville. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.

Services: Our Lady Help of Christian's RC Church Wednesday, May 1,2013 11:30AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Tuesday, April 30,2013 2-4 & 7-9PM

Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery (Staten Island)

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: Our Lady Help of Christians R.C.Church