Robert John Malatesta

Mr. Robert John Malatesta, 83, of Shelby, passed away Friday, May 29, 2015, at his home. Visitation will be 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2015, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shelby. A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow beginning at 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2015, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Scott Thomas officiating. Interment will be in Shelby Cemetery. Mr. Malatesta was born on April 7, 1932, in Shelby, MS, to Gioavanni and Mary Mangialardi Malatesta. He played high school football and kept his love of sports alive by watching football and baseball often as well as his judge shows. On January 29, 1992, he married Celeste Jenkins Litton in Indianola, MS. He was the owner and operator of Delta Gin with his brothers, David and Albert. He was also the owner and operator of A&R Farms along with his brother Albert, and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
He enjoyed eating Italian food and said often that nobody could cook it like his mother. You could often see him riding his dog, Trouble, around every day and he loved him dearly. Mr. Malatesta enjoyed hunting, family get-togethers, and going in the morning to have coffee at David Fava's. He was a very giving man, who would much rather give than receive.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Gioavanni and Mary Malatesta; brothers, Primo Malatesta, Secunda Malatesta, Paul Malatesta, and Albert Malatesta; and sister, Cecilia Carloni. Mr. Maltesta is survived by his wife of 23 years, Celeste Litton Malatesta; children, Kristen Ann Pruitt of Greensboro, NC, Robert Malatesta, Jr. of Chicago, IL, Earl Litton (Charlotte) of Indianola, MS, Joel Litton of Clarksdale, MS, and Pamela Litton Wostarek of Katy, TX; grandchildren, Meredith Bogue, Taylor Pruitt, Katelyn Pruitt, Kelly Whitten, Cole Litton, Brian Litton, Tara Litton, Mitch Childs, and Ashleigh Wostarek; great-grandchildren, Emma Whitten, Aiden Whitten, Jack Whitten, Addie Litton, and Cole Bogue; Brother, David Malatesta (Christine) of Shelby, MS; and sister, Elena Turbertini of Shelby, MS. Pallbearers will be Brian Litton, Cole Litton, Darrell Malatesta, Garry Pongetti, Glenn Radicioni, Greg Mangialardi, Mitch Childs, and Woody Sawyer. Honorary pallbearers David Edward Malatesta, Donald Malatesta, Johnny Malatesta, Larry Malatesta, Paul Malatesta, Jr., Ralph Malatesta, and Robert Johnston.

Visitation

10:00 am - 11:00 am Monday, June 1, 2015
St. Mary's Catholic Church 700 Second Street Shelby, Mississippi, United States

Mass of Christian Burial

11:00 am - 12:00 am Monday, June 1, 2015
St. Mary's Catholic Church 700 Second Street Shelby, Mississippi, United States

Interment

12:00 pm Monday, June 1, 2015
Shelby Cemetery Shelby Shelby, Mississippi, United States