[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E92]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN MEMORY OF BARBARA ANSELMO CHIFICI
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HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I would like to include
in the Record the following obituary for Barbara Anselmo Chifici.
Barbara Anselmo Chifici
Barbara ``Mrs. Barbara'' Anselmo Chifici, age 77, passed
away unexpectedly on January 23, 2021 due to complications
from Coronavirus at Ochsner Medical Center Kenner. A lifelong
resident of New Orleans, Barbara attended grammar school at
St. Rita Catholic School in New Orleans and graduated from
Academy of the Holy Angels. She also studied at Meadows-
Draughon Business College, Louisiana State University, Loyola
University, and the University of New Orleans. Barbara was
the owner and matriarch of the independent family-owned
restaurant group Deanie's Seafood restaurants. Barbara came
from a large extended Italian family of restaurateurs, where
she learned the rigorous demands of running and owning family
restaurants. Barbara was awarded an American Culinary
Federation New Orleans' Outstanding Foodservice Professional
Award in 2013, and had been sought to judge culinary
competitions throughout the country during her career. She
remained a fixture at the restaurants until the Coronavirus
pandemic began last spring. Barbara was an inspiration to
generations of culinarians and hospitality workers. As a
widowed mother of seven children, she created a rich life for
herself and her family around food, faith and community. Her
achievements as a woman entrepreneur reached well beyond the
expectations of her generation. She instilled a genuine sense
of hospitality, quality, family and pride into everything she
did with motherly poise and a steely determination that
launched and sustained a New Orleans seafood restaurant
institution for almost 40 years. Barbara married her late
husband Frank Chifici in 1963, and the couple operated a
catering business out of their home and later two
restaurants, Chifici's Restaurant in the Central Business
District and Gromboli's in Metairie, before purchasing
Deanie's Seafood Restaurant & Seafood Market in Bucktown in
1982. She was widowed in 1985 after Frank passed away
following an 18-month illness. The Chifici family celebrated
38 years as owners and operators of Deanie's Seafood in April
2020. Known for serving up overflowing fried seafood platters
and boiled Louisiana seafood, Deanie's became a local
favorite that garnered national attention. The restaurant was
recognized year after year among New Orleans' best seafood
restaurants and featured on numerous Travel Channel and Food
Network programs. In 2001, she opened the second Deanie's
Seafood restaurant located at the corner of Iberville and
Dauphine streets in the French Quarter. Deanie's Sea Food
Kitchen, located at 2200 Magazine St. in Uptown New Orleans,
opened in 2018. In her later years, as her adult children
involved the day-to-day management of the restaurants, she
sought ways to champion the values and people she loved.
Barbara created Pinchapalooza in 2009, an outdoor crawfish
and music festival at Deanie's in Bucktown benefiting local
charities that was celebrated for 10 years. She had a large
holiday display at her home that later was showcased in
windows of the former D.H. Holmes Department Store Annex that
housed her French Quarter restaurant, where she also
introduced an annual Santa's breakfast and holiday sing-along
series offered from 2013 through 2019. She enjoyed travel,
dining, cruises, cooking and had season tickets for the New
Orleans Saints and local theater. Barbara also had a
successful real estate business for over 40 years. She was
past president and a longtime member of the Elenian Club of
New Orleans, a philanthropic group of women of italian
descent. She served in numerous officer positions for the St.
Mary Magdalen Mothers' Club and the Archbishop Rummel High
School Parents' Club, including vice president. Barbara was
preceded in death by her parents Olga Eve Cazes Anselmo and
Vincent Anselmo, and her loving husband, Frank Angelo
Chifici. She is survived by her brothers Robert Vincent
Anselmo (Marlee Early Anselmo) and Dale Anthony Anselmo, her
sister in law Virginia Chifici Tedesco and seven children,
Mark David Chifici (Joan Dardis Chifici), Darren Frank
Chifici (Chasidy Fonseca), Eric John Chifici (Christina Haley
Chifici), Keith Vincent Chifici (Renee Gascon Chifici),
Garrett Paul Chifici (Candice Schloegel Chifici), Chandra Eve
Chifici-Scarber (Richard Scarber) and Candace Ann Chifici
(Douglas Farrington). She also adored her 12 grandchildren:
Dillon, Erica, Alaina, Olivia, Nicholas, Therese, Sophia,
Vito, Vincent, Dominic, Vivienne and Giovanni along with a
huge extended family who admired her dedication and
hospitality to everyone she encountered. Relatives and
friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St.
Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 105 Bonnabel Blvd.,
Metairie, LA 70005, on Friday, January 29, 2021 at 1:00 pm.
Reception will follow at the Msgr. Melancon Center.
Visitation will be Friday at 10:00 am. A private service will
be held for her interment in Lake Lawn Park. In lieu of usual
remembrances, donations may be made to Angels' Place of New
Orleans, 4323 Division St., Suite 206, Metairie, LA 70002 and
Ronald McDonald House, 4403 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70119.
The Mass will be live streamed on Youtube. Details are
available at www.scschurch.com and will be posted to Deanie's
Facebook page.
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