Antoinette Digieso

We lost our dear mother, ANTOINETTE MARY GUADAGNO DIGIESO, ON DECEMBER 2, 2016, one week prior to her 95th birthday. Antoinette was born on December 9, 1921, in West Orange, NJ, the fourth of thirteen children. She lived in West Orange until her marriage on February 13, 1944, to JOSEPH VINCENT DIGIESO of Summit, NJ. She lived most of her adult life in both Millburn and Summit, NJ. She retired from American Water Works in December of 1986 and in 1991 moved to Thomson, GA, where she resided for 18 years. She later lived in both Martinez and Alpharetta, GA, for a short time, where two of her sons lived.

Antoinette left school during the Great Depression before graduating from high school to help her family financially. She gave half her wages to her father and saved the remainder. Mom took great pride in dressing neatly and as fashionably as she could afford. She purchased well-made clothes and paired them with good heels, hats and purses, and always wore gloves. We love the pictures of Mom as a young working woman and the way she dressed, especially in her hats. Throughout her life, she loved wearing hats and she looked good in them, too!

Antoinette and her husband, Joe, were very active in the PTA of the elementary school their four children attended and the local Democratic Party. Mom enjoyed sewing, reading, was an avid canasta and bridge player, and belonged to a ballroom dance club with her husband. Mom also liked to cook and frequently added her own special touches to recipes. If she didn't have raisins, well then, dates would do. If the recipe called for a spice she didn't have, she'd improvise. The great thing is, no matter what she changed, her dishes were always good, and interesting!

Our mother and father found the most joy in family and raising their children. Many of our family lived nearby and holidays brought a houseful of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins either at our place or we would drive to their homes. Our family particularly looked forward to the annual July 4th picnic at our home. Everyone came to Antoinette and Joe's; family and friends sharing food, fun and powerful memories of each relative's particular personality. In the late afternoon the men would be playing card games or horse shoes and the women would be chatting away as if they hadn't seen each other in forever. Everyone always looked forward to hearing mom and her sisters Eleanore, Betty and Gloria sing in perfect harmony.

Antoinette loved her life and always kept upbeat. She was not one to complain and if she had a good night she made sure to greet us in the morning with "Rise and shine. The world is fine". Not so much if she didn't have a good night! She made sure we washed our hands and brushed our teeth for a LONG time, and we had to make our bed every morning. Mom made a difference in the lives of others with the simple act of caring about them. She kept a calendar of the birthdates and anniversaries of siblings, nieces, nephews, children and grandchildren and mailed cards and notes regularly. No one was forgotten.

When her husband, Joe, passed away too early at the age of 54 on FEBRUARY 27, 1976, Antoinette began to play golf at the urging of friends and family. Golf became her dearest pastime and she played regularly well into her 80s. Mom was always disappointed about not having received her high school diploma so, when her family was grown, she studied and earned her GED. A very proud accomplishment for her and her family.

Antoinette did not have a fondness for doctors or medicine. Inevitably her response to a prescription or diagnosis would be "What do they know!" At the end, she did not suffer long. Mom's breathing was compromised, she developed fluid around her lungs. She passed away the day before a procedure to remove the fluid could be performed.

Our mother was preceded in death by her husband, JOSEPH VINCENT DIGIESO, SR., on FEBRUARY 27, 1976, at age 54; her father, Anthony [74] ; her mother [93]; her sisters, GLORIA, ROSE, ELEANOR, BETTY, AND ANNA; and her brother CHARLES.

Antoinette is survived by her children: JOSEPH V. DIGIESO (JACQUE), Alpharetta, GA; JANET DIGIESO REILLY (MICHAEL), Amelia Island, FL; JAMES V. DIGIESO, Martinez, GA ( former daughter-in-law Lynne); and GREGORY DIGIESO (KARLA), Delavan, WI.

Antoinette also leaves behind her grandchildren: KIMBERLEY REILLY (MATTHEW LINDSAY) Appleton, WI; ERIC V. DIGIESO (CARRIE) Gilbert, SC; STEVEN V. DIGIESO (STACY) Ball Ground, GA; KATHERINE REILLY MULLIS (JASON) Richmond, VA; GREGORY V. DIGIESO (Boyton Beach ?) FL; VINCENT R. DIGIESO Delavan,WI; and GINA MARIE DIGIESO Delavan, WI.

Her great grandchildren are: Jackson Digieso, Hunter Digieso, JolieAnna Digieso, Nora Lindsay-Reilly, Jennings Digieso, Ford Lindsay-Reilly, Logan Digieso, Declan Mullis and Elsbeth Mullis.

Antoinette's living siblings are: Albert Guadagno, West Orange, NJ; Anthony Guadagno, Oklahoma City, OK; Jerry Guadagno , Southlake, TX; Victor Guadagno, New Port Richie, FL; Jo Garrison, Tulsa, OK; and Michael Guadagno , Donna, TX.