Antonio ‘Tony’ Plati funeral: Man killed by hit-and-run driver in Freshwater
More than 700 people have farewelled a family man, who was the full-time carer for his 102-year-old mother, at an emotional funeral service on the northern beaches. The hit-and-run victim was remembered as somebody who ‘always made everyone smile’.
Manly
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More than 700 people have said goodbye to a devoted family man who was the “most giving person ever known” at a tearful funeral service on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Antonio “Tony” Plati died doing one of his favourite things — an early morning walk to South Curl Curl Beach — when he was struck by an unknown vehicle and left to die on the side of the road.
Mr Plati, 66, was just minutes from the home in Freshwater he shared with his 102-year-old mother, Maria, when he was killed on Oliver St just after 5.30am on February 22.
Police are still looking for the driver.
In a packed service at St Kevin’s Catholic Church, Dee Why on Thursday, mourners were told how Mr Plati unselfishly became the full-time carer for his mother and rarely ever left her side.
During the moving ceremony, some of it spoken in Italian by parish priest Father Reinaldo Vassoler, Mr Plati was remembered by his family as person who didn’t take life too seriously.
“He would say ‘don’t worry about it’,” his niece Carmel Gelonesi said. “He always made everyone smile and laugh.
“He was the most giving person ever known, My uncle was one of the most thoughtful people.”
Mr Plati’s only child, his daughter, Maria, thanked her dad, who left Manly Boys High School when he was 16, for all the sacrifices he made for her.
“Thankyou for teaching me how to be strong,” Ms Plati said.
“Thankyou for putting up with my stubbornness.
“Thankyou for teaching me how to ride a bike without training wheels.
“I know you are not here to protect me, but I know you will be looking down from above.”
Fr Vassoler told the congregation that Mr Plati died in a way “that should not happen to anyone”.
“Tony was always there for the people he most loved in life,” he said.
“It is a beautiful sight, from here, to see the church so packed, showing your love for Tony.”
On its way to the Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery, the lengthy funeral cortege paused at the spot where Mr Plati died, the intersection of Oliver and Brighton streets, Freshwater.
Police blocked traffic on Oliver St for several minutes to allow the cortege to pass.
Earlier this week Mr Plati’s sister, Anne Gelonesi, made an emotional plea for the driver to come forward and “just explain what happened”.
Mrs Gelonesi told the Manly Daily that their mother, and Mr Plati’s daughter, needed answers.
“We would love that person to come forward, just to explain what happened,” she said.
“That way we can also explain it to our mother and Tony’s daughter.
“We just want something, just tell us something about what happened.”
Police have set up Strike Force Clarefield, made up of officers from the northern beaches and the NSW Crash Investigation Unit, to track down the driver.