Barbara Chifici, owner of Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants and matriarch of the Chifici Family, has passed away. She was 77. Family members say Chifici, who was also known as Mrs. Barbara, passed away late Saturday night at Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner from Coronavirus complications.

Chifici, who came from a large Italian family of New Orleans restauranteurs, married her late husband Frank Chifici in 1963. The two operated two restaurants, Chifici’s Restaurant in New Orleans and Gramboli’s in Metairie, before buying the Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant and Market in Bucktown in 1982.