Marino Zazzera, 91, prominent Carbondale restaurateur and philanthropist to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, died Wednesday morning at Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Dunmore.

Forty hours later on Thursday evening, his wife, Benedetta Zazzera, 89, died at the same facility. They were married 67 years.

Marino died on the 50th anniversary of his mother’s death.

Both were born in Carbondale. Marino was the son of the late Lawrence and Mary Simile Zazzera while Benedetta was the daughter of the late James and Mary Cassaro Zazzera.

Marino was a lifelong restaurateur. He owned Zaz­zera’s Luncheonette and worked at his father-in-law’s store on the viaduct in his younger days. He was a former professional baseball player for the LaGrange Troopers, a Class A team in the NY Yankees farm system in 1949. For years, he was a member of Elkview Country Club. An avid golfer, Marino was known as a long-ball hitter, long before that became the norm.

Benedetta had a deep devotion to St. Theresa and the Rosary. She had a strong moral compass and inspiration of faith during life’s trials and tribulations.

Both had a devotion to family and found joy in spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Marino, a culinary chef, and Benedetta, a talented baker, opened the Ben-Mar Restaurant in 1963. For decades, it became a must-stop destination for those seeking to enjoy Italian-American cuisine. Their family continued that tradition and it continues today.

Marino and Benedetta had a strong dedication to St. Jude.

With the assistance of family, extended family and friends, the couple were the driving force in raising more than $1,000,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital through the Ben-Mar/St. Jude Children’s Hospital Golf Tournament. The 40th annual was held in 2017.

The couple had a strong love for each other, their family and community. Through the years, they supported their community’s needs through the success of their business.

The family extends its sincere gratitude to the Hospice of the Sacred Heart staff. It also wanted thank all the personal caregivers for all the good days and for making those difficult days as comforting as possible.

The couple is survived by three sons, Gerard and Dominic Zazzera, Carbondale; Marino Zazzera and wife, Jackie, Carbondale; six daughters, Mary Theresa Zazzera and husband, Jay Buettner, New Jersey; Betsy Keating and husband, Ed, Arizona; Marina Whittington and husband, Patrick, Carbondale; Judy McDon­ough and husband, Kevin, Cranberry Twp.; Gloria Gigliotti and husband, John, Carbondale; and Andrea Gigliotti, Carbondale; 15 grandchildren, Craig Keating and wife, Maureen, Kansas; Tara Nepa and husband, Jared, Michigan; Jessica Trichilo and husband, Rich, Simpson; Patrick Whittington and wife, May, Glenburn; Jenna Whittington, Carbondale; Joya Whittington and wife, Ashley, Carbondale; Kevin McDonough and wife, Heather; Sarah Vargo and husband, Matt; Maura Rauker and husband, Matt, all of Pittsburgh; John Michael and Rebekah Gigliotti, Carbondale; Shawna Gigliotti and fiancé, Louis Mantione; Joey Gigliotti, all of Philadelphia; Dominic and Nikki Zazzera, Carbondale, 15 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Dar and Frances Zazzera, Carbondale; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Marino was preceded in death by four brothers, Anthony, Frank, Dominic and Charles Zazzera; and four sisters, Helen Martines Neutts, Vickie Gillette, Mary Cieciorka and Violet Falvo.

Benedetta was preceded in death by two brothers, Nicholas Zazzera and Anthony (Satch) Zazzera.

Marino and Benedetta’s funerals were held on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, from Lawrence A. Gabriel Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 74 N. Main St., Carbondale, with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Rose of Lima Church. Interment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill.

Friends called Monday, February 19, 2018, from 4 until 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s research Hospital/tribute, P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142, or http://fundraising.stjude.org/benedetta_marinozazzera.