Antoinette DeSimone Berry

Antoinette DeSimone Berry was born into this world in 1935 in Kansas City, Mo. Following a short battle with various illnesses, God wrapped his arms around her drawing her to eternal life on October 28th.In her twenties, Antoinette moved to Chicago for a work opportunity and within a year found herself with the man who would become her husband for the next fifty-seven years. During her life, Antoinette was blessed with two children and four beautiful grandchildren.Her greatest joy in life came from becoming a Nonnie (Grandmother)…a title she wore proudly. Her grandchildren were the center of her life, and she went out of her way to ensure the freezer was full of their favorite snacks. Homemade Italian cookies, ice cream cones, mini peanut butter cups cookies, and boxes of brownie mix could always be found. If they didn’t want a snack, there was always a box of pasta to be turned into pastina or covered in sauce (sugu as she called it). Since filling their bellies and giving them hugs wasn’t enough for Antoinette, she did her best to attend all the kids’ activities, sporting events and concerts.Antoinette walked by faith and not by sight. Her service to God was at the forefront of her life. She and her family have been active parishioners of St. Edna’s Catholic Church for 55 years. One of her proudest moments of service was being named the Women of St. Edna’s (WOSE) Women of the Year. From cleaning church pews, washing church linens, and making cannoli for the Summerfests to crocheting mats for the homeless, working Friday Bingo Nights, and being an active member of the Grandparent’s Prayer Ministry, her involvement and contributions to St. Edna’s are immense and too long to enumerate.Antoinette is survived by her husband William, two children Lisa (Chris), William (Diane); grandchildren Jack, Mark, Robert, and Grace; siblings Jasper, Vita (George), Joseph (Norma), Richard (Carole), numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Antoinette is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Congetta, sister Rosalyn, and sister-in-law Toni Ann.Visitation will be 9:00-10:30 am followed by a mass on Friday, November 11, 2022, at St. Edna’s Catholic Church, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Edna’s Catholic Church.