Antoinette Marie 'matante' Giunta

Antoinette Marie 'Matante' Giunta, 91, of Hartford died Tuesday (November 18, 2008) in Hartford. Born in Hartford, daughter of the late Matteo and Laura (Houle) Giunta, Antoinette lived in Hartford all her life. She was employed by the U. S. Immigration & Naturalization Service in Hartford for more than 30 years. After her retirement, in keeping with her way of helping others, she volunteered at the Italian Information Center on Franklin Avenue for many years. She was a proud member of the National Association of Federal Retirees Chapter 154, the XV Club, the senior member of Ste. Anne Church in Hartford. She enjoyed the theatre, was a benefactor of the Bushnell and a patron of the Hartford Stage and the Goodspeed. Antoinette's loyalty to family and friends, devotion to God, love of the arts, successful business acumen, delight in life and unrelenting optimism until the day she died, have provided us with a master life-plan for all to follow ? her final gift to us. Antoinette is survived by a brother, Raymond Giunta and his wife Francine of Farmington; a sister, Rita Zoppa of East Hartford; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Giunta of Reading, MA; 12 nieces and nephews, Anita Zakrzewski and Theresa Zakrzewski (her devoted and loving caregiver) of Rocky Hill, Barbara Zakrzewski of Vernon, Diane Bonin of Enfield, Michael Zoppa of East Hartford, Andrea Reffler of RI, Paul Giunta of NV, Michael Giunta, Laura Giunta and Christina Langlois, all of MA and John Giunta and Marie Giunta of VA as well as many grand-nieces and -nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her sister Rina Zakrzewski, and her brothers Pierre Giunta and Alma Giunta. The family extends a special thank you to Dr. Richard Truex and Dr. David Emmel and their staffs for the wonderful care provided to ""Matante"". Funeral Services will begin Saturday, November 22 at 9 a.m. from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd, Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 280 Brook Street, Rocky Hill. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Friends and relatives may call on Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to The Bushnell, Stephanie McMullon, Annual Fund, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106-1621. For on-line expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.