Obituary of Antoinette Marie Trifari

Trifari, Antoinette Marie passed peacefully in her 104th year at her Middlewoods Assisted Living home in Farmington, Connecticut on Saturday, 11 November, 2012. She was born in Paterson, New Jersey on July 9, 1909, the fifth child of fourteen children, the daughter of Angelina De Franco and Giovanni Pescatore. Antoinette was predeceased by her husband Edmund F. Trifari who was a teacher at Chelsea Vocational High School in New York City and a ham radio operator for Navy MARS Civil Defense for the State of N.J. She is survived by three younger sisters, Frances Lorenzo, Anna Bradle, and Lucy Di Rienzo. She is the beloved mother of twins, Edmund F. Trifari, Jr. of West Hartford, Connecticut and Nancy Roncati Dowden of Brighton, England and their spouses, Claire Elwood of Paterson and George Dowden of Philadelphia. She is dearly loved by seven grandchildren, Conrad, Terri-Ann, Edmund III, MaryBeth, Michael, John, and Brian, and their spouses. Fourteen grandchildren, Conrad M., Abigaile, Jessica, James, Dean, Carissa, Joshua, Dylan, Mia, Ryan, Nicholas, Tyler, Michael and Portia will also miss her greatly. Antoinette has four generations of nieces and nephews most of whom celebrated her 103rd birthday with her this past July at White Beeches Country Club in Haworth, New Jersey. Antoinette's first employment at age fourteen was sewing beads by hand on opulent gowns used by opera companies in New York City. She then worked in Paterson silk mills until her marriage in 1935. She continued making use of her creative gifts through the years and at age 98 was still crocheting and knitting, making over eighty fichu scarves to send as gifts to loved ones all over the country. She was featured in Herculon magazine for the beautiful poodle dogs she used to make and sell from their yarn remnants. A wonderful cook, she is remembered by everyone for the many delicious Italian meals served in her Paterson home where she lived from 1941 to 2004. At age 94 Antoinette became a volunteer at St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Totowa, New Jersey. A resident of Middlewoods since January 2006, Antoinette inspired and amazed everyone with her love of life and her love of others. The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the aides, the Hospice nurses and volunteers, as well as the administrator and staff at Middlewoods for their exceptional loving care of Antoinette. Calling hours are Friday, November 16, at Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa N.J. from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM. Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 17, at 10:15 AM at St. Bonaventure's R.C. Church in Paterson and entombment will follow at Laurel Grove Mausoleum, Totowa, N.J. The family feels that prayers for their dear mother and grandmother along with their visit will be all that is necessary to express condolences. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.festamemorial.com.