Antonina Field

Antonina Field, age 85 of Fraser, died Friday, April 30th 2021 at her residence in Clinton Township, Michigan. She was born July 1, 1935 in Detroit, daughter of the late Stephen and the late Consetta (nee: Pepitone) Lauria.

Along with her role as mom and homemaker, Antonina was also an integral part of the workforce in her employment role as a mail carrier with the USPS. Responsible for the delivery of such precious goods, Antonina was everybody’s best friend at Christmastime. A longtime resident of Warren, she was also quite engaged in the community and most proud of the service she extended as part of the Warren Commission. Antonina was certainly a “go-getter” at heart and found great reward in supporting her city and staying on top of the current events.

In her personal life, Antonina was known for her skills and prowess as a cook and baker, and she certainly knew her way around the kitchen. All she needed was a stove, an oven and a little preparation space,…then just step back and watch her perform her culinary magic. Most everything she prepared was a mouthwatering delight. But with her parents sporting the last names of Lauria & Pepitone, is it any wonder that the top 3 of the family’s favorites were her Homemade Pizza, Spaghetti, and that incredible Lasagna she so painstakingly prepared. Ahh,…but that’s not all. Something Antonina prepared that was most unique and will forever be remembered was her Ribbon Jello. A dessert treat that took many hours of loving and artistic patience to arrive at the finished product, it not only tasted like a million bucks, but looked the part as well. With many layers of different colored sheets of jello, each layer was but another affectation of her tremendous talents with food. Mealtimes at Antonina’s was a thing to behold. If you left her table hungry, you just weren’t trying.

Not only did Antonina possess an amazing gift in food preparation, her children, and many of her grandchildren, became talented cooks and bakers as well…simply by spending time in the kitchen watching Antonina work her magic. What pride she must have taken in witnessing her offspring, and theirs, covet the same interests and emanate their Mom and Grandma with a loving reverence for what she taught. She was handing down her legacy, perhaps, without even knowing it.

When she was looking to enjoy a little entertainment, she loved playing cards and the name of the game was “Rummy.” An old standard and favorite that she passed down to the family as well, nothing spelled fun quite like getting loved ones around the table, slingin’ some cards, and sharing a little friendly banter amidst the competition. Rummy Anyone?

Antonina may have been in her 80’s, but for the last 10 years she has been part of the “Tech-Savvy” set as most of her communications were effected via texting. That’s right,…Granny had that texting thing down, Baby. But never while driving, of course.

But, perhaps, the family’s memory of Antonina that will be most coveted is the presence she commanded on the dance floor as their “Dancing Nana.” Donned as such because there wasn’t a dance floor out there that she didn’t grace with her signature moves,…wherever the party took her, Nana just had to dance!

A cherished mother of 4, grandmother of 12, and great-grandmother of 24, Antonina’s quiver was full with love in abundance that poured out in each and every visit they shared together. Family meant the world to her; they were truly the wind beneath her wings and the light of her life. Antonina leaves behind a wonderful legacy of love to be embraced with each reflection shared. She will be missed beyond expression and loved beyond measure.      

Antonina was the beloved mother of Linda Field, the late Deborah Field, Constance (Glen) Nast, and Sheryl (Jeffry) Guske. Loving grandmother of Dale (Brenda) Betts, James (Kelly) Miller, the late George Miller, Stephen (Shannon) Miller, Brina (Ivan) Pastora, Nicholas (Laurie) Monterosso, Jennifer Nast, Glen (Jennifer) Nast, Michael (Amy Wayne) Nast, Justin (Kim) Guske, Courtney (Justin) Kendrick, and Rachael (Matthew) Langolf. She was the great-grandmother of Ethyn, Jackson, Emma, Jillian, MJ, Zoey, Ian, Riley, Dominik, Sadie, Kayla, Corey, Brandon, Dylan, Chris, Sarah, Amanda, Levi, Ezekiel, Samuel, Hannah, Lilliana, Emilio, Enzio, Leandro, and cherished great-great grandmother of 8. Sister of Virginia Hilgendorf. Preceded in death by her sister Mary Punturiere and her brother Frank Lauria.

A Memorial Service for Antonina will be held Thursday, July 1st from 4-8 pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Rd) in Warren, Michigan. Antonina will be inurned at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit on Friday at 2 pm. 

Memorial donations are welcomed to the family of Antonina Field.

Please share memories of Antonina at her guest book below.