Antoinette Guarnaccia

In loving memory of Antoinette Guarnaccia, who passed away from natural causes on April 16, 2024 at the age of 96. Antoinette was born to Christine and Pasquale DeSimone on March 25, 1928 in Boston, MA. She was the eldest of four children with her two sisters, Dorothy and Ann, and her brother, Bernard. She was a 1950 graduate of Emmanuel College in chemistry and worked as a research assistant at Children’s Hospital in Boston. While at Children’s Hospital, she participated in early research studies regarding the causes and treatment of hydrocephalus in newborns.

In 1952, Antoinette met her husband, Guy Guarnaccia, a dental student, at a mutual friend’s wedding. They married on July 5, 1954. Soon after his graduation, the army sent Guy to Germany. Antoinette joined him the following year with their first child, Joseph. Their second child, Phyllis, was born in Germany and two years later they returned to the states to set up their home in Winchester, MA. While in Germany, she and Guy developed their love of travel which they continued throughout their marriage and into their golden years.

Over the years, Antoinette had four more children, three sons and one daughter, and she raised her young niece and nephew, Chris Hill and Keith Leary, after the untimely death of their mother, Dorothy. When all the children left the nest, Antoinette was invited by Guy to work in his dental office as his office manager. Typical of Antoinette’s work ethic, she kept the office humming.

Having lived in Winchester for 40 years, she and Guy moved to Greenwich, CT in 2008 to be closer to their daughter Christine. During that time, she continued her many interests – scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting and baking. She even bravely took swim lessons for the first time. Antoinette will be remembered by her family for many things, not least of all, her chocolate chip cookies.

She is survived by her children; Joseph and Rajita Guarnaccia of New Haven, CT; Phyllis Guarnacci of Binghamton, NY; Steven Guarnaccia of San Jose, CA; Christine Fontana of Ogunquit, ME; David and Kathy Guarnaccia of Carlisle, MA; Michael and Barbara Guarnaccia of Closter, NJ; Christine and Michael Hill of Plaistow, NH, and Keith and Lauren Leary of Wellington, FL., as well as 16 grandchildren.

Antoinette will be lovingly remembered by her fierce sense of devotion to family, her catholic faith and a steadfast determination in everything she set out to do. In her later years, her cheerful and social demeanor at her assisted living home was inspiring to the staff and her fellow residents. Her presence was one of a strong beautiful woman with a loving heart. Antoinette will be missed.