Antoinette M. Clark, age 94, widow of the late Ralph B. Clark, passed away Friday, December 19, 2003 at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham. She was born October 30, 1909 in Castelbuono, Province of Palermo, on the Island of Sicily, the daughter of the late Pasquale Francesco Magliocco and Marianna Russo Magliocco. As a young girl with few material possessions and knowing little of the language, she came from Italy to the United States a along with her family with a dream for and in search of a new life. Although the streets were not "paved with gold" as they had so often heard back in the "old country", she and her parents and siblings learned the lesson of the many immigrants who came before and after, namely, that through hard work, sacrifice, honesty and perseverance, it was and still remains possible to better oneself and to prosper. Despite the lack of formal education, Antoinette was well read, self-taught and maintained a wide variety of interests ranging from finance and investment to art, music and history. She loved to cook, collect antiques, garden and grow flowers and plants year round. Antoinette was equally proud of her ethnic and cultural heritage as well as her citizenship in this country. She was a deeply religious individual and devout member of her faith and was also a generous benefactress to her church and many religious and charitable causes. Because she helped with the care of her aging parents, to whom she was devoted, and also for reason that she married later in life. Antoinette had no children of her own. She lavished her love and generosity on her nieces and nephews who referred to her affectionately as "Zia". After her husband's retirement from military service, she and Ralph moved to a modest home in Storrs where until the time of her husband's decease, Antoinette remained active in various community organizations including the Princess Yolanda and Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodges, Order of the Sons of Italy, the local historical society, and several senior citizen and church related groups. Along with her religion, her passion for her ethnicity and allegiance to her adoptive country, the primary constant in Antoinette's life was "la famiglia" her family. She will be missed by them as well as by all who knew her. In addition to her mother and father and her husband, she was also predeceased by her beloved sister, Lucy M. Ferris and brother-in-law, Charles K. Ferris. She is survived by her brother, Francis J. Magliocco and sister-in-law, Pauline Hurteau Magliocco of Columbia; her brother, Anthony H. Magliocco and sister-in-law, Joanne Curtis Magliocco of Vernon; a special nephew, Richard G. Beaulieu and his wife, Marlene Carr Beaulieu of Newport, New Hampshire and by her many other nieces and nephews as well as numerous cousins in this country and in "Italia". Donations may be made in Antoinette's name either to St. Joseph Living Center or to a charity of the donor's choice. Kindly omit flowers. Her family will receive friends at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Willimantic on Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the procession to her Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, Willimantic. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Windham. Please visit
www.potterfh.com
for directions and online guestbook.