Funeral Mass for Julian Michael Fontana, 84, of Leland will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at St. James Catholic Church in Leland. He died on Monday, June 19, 2023, at his home. Burial will be in the Leland-Stoneville Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland.
Julian was born in Monroe, LA on May 23, 1939, to Michael and Frances Scalia Fontana and attended St. Matthews Catholic School. He graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe. After his graduation, he started his 64-year Pharmacy career in Monroe before moving to Greenville in 1969. Julian was in the U.S. Army Reserve for 15 years.
He was a communicant of St. Joseph Catholic Church before moving to Leland in 1994 where he became a communicant of St. James Catholic Church. He also attended Parkview Baptist Church. He was an avid LSU fan and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Jo Marie Fontana Kindrix, mother of 8 of his children, Elizabeth (Libby) Fontana and a grandchild, Elizabeth Grace Hathaway.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Deedra Brackeen Fontana; children, Julice F. Curry (Rob), Donna F. Signa (Frankie), Michael Fontana (Patty), Terri F. Hamilton, Danny Fontana, Tammy F. Smith (David), Renee Fontana, Ricky Fontana (Erin), and Michaela Fontana Stone (Tim); sisters, Frances Fontana Sampognaro and Deborah Fontana Scott; 20 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Julian’s caregivers, Leah Brooks of Prime Care, Whitney Jones, and Sara Jones of Delta Health System. The family would also like to thank The Greenville Clinic, with special thanks to Dr. Ben Folk.
There will be a visitation from 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m. with a Rosary following on Wednesday at the church. Father Sanchez will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. Vincent De Paul, P. O. Box 1523, Greenville, MS 38702.