Marco A. Ferrante, Sr. - Obituary

arco Anthony Ferrante Sr., 77, of Arnold, MD and Lewes, DE, passed away peacefully on March 17th, 2025 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD, after a courageous and swift battle with gliosarcoma that affected multiple areas of his brain. Born on April 12th, 1947 in Washington, DC to the late Nicholas and Marie Ferrante, Marco was a man of deep faith, a loving family man, and someone who brought joy and warmth to everyone he met. He grew up in Washington, where he attended Catholic schools and discovered his passion for sports, particularly football and wrestling. Marco spent his summers working alongside his grandfather, Giuseppe Ferrante, and his Uncle Russ Marinucci in construction, a job that helped shape his strong work ethic. In 1967, Marco married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Marlene Crupi, at Holy Family Church in Hillcrest Heights, MD, marking the beginning of a loving marriage that would last more than 57 years. Together, they built a life full of love and accomplishments. In 1970, Marco, along with his father and late brother Joe, opened Nick’s Supermarket in Clinton, MD—a beloved Italian grocery and full-service meat store. Marco’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to open his own business, Marco’s Meat & Gourmet in Fort Washington, MD. His passion for the Italian meat industry grew, and alongside his brothers, he founded Ferrante Brothers Italian Sausage, an endeavor that reflected his commitment to quality and his Italian heritage. Marco’s talents were vast. He was a gifted cook, specializing in Italian meat dishes, and a passionate winemaker, earning several medals in the Wine Makers International competitions. His love for bocce was well-known, and his garden—complete with fig trees and peonies—was a source of great pride. As an avid Washington Redskins fan, Marco never missed a home game and cherished the hat his mother had crocheted for him. Marco also enjoyed spending time on his boat, fishing. While the fish didn’t always bite, his true joy came from spending time with friends and family, teaching the kids how to fish, rather than focusing on catching fish himself. He also took great joy in supporting his many nephews at their ballgames and wrestling matches, always cheering them on with love and pride. A devout Catholic, Marco was a proud Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Andrew’s by the Bay in Arnold. He was actively involved in organizing events with the Knights of Columbus and Boy Scout fundraising efforts. Marco also served as the President of the Italian Business Man Association (IBM) up until recently and had a great love for his brothers of the IBM. Marco was preceded in death by his beloved brother, Joe (Jean). He is survived by his loving wife, Brenda; his brothers, Nick (Mickey) and Rick (Lucia); his sister Donna (Wayne) Wrenn; his son, Marco Jr. (Carin); his daughter, Lynne-Michele and his cherished grandchildren, Gabriella Ida and Olivia Jane Ferrante. Marco will also be missed by many nieces, nephews, and a large extended family. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Marco’s life on Sunday, March 23 from 2 to 5 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037. Mass of the Resurrection will be offered the following day, Monday, March 24 at 11 am at St. Andrew by the Bay Catholic Church, 701 College Pkwy, Annapolis, MD 21409. Inurnment will follow at Lakemont Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Davidsonville, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Andrew by the Bay Knights of Columbus, Number 11552, at sabbkofc.org. Marco's life was defined by love, faith, and a deep commitment to his family and community. He will be deeply missed. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.