Sr. Annette Louise D'Antonio

Sr. Annette Louise D’Antonio, MPF, at the age of 73, died Thursday, September 14, 2023, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY.

Born in Middletown, CT, on March 29, 1950, she was the daughter of the late Amerigo and Josephine (Marino) D’Antonio.  She entered the Religious Teachers Filippini at the age of 14.  She was invested as a Novicein in 1968 and made her Perpetual Oblation in 1974.

Sr. Annette studied Elementary Education, earning a BS degree from the College of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, NJ and a MS from Central Connecticut State College in New Britain, CT.

In her 55 years of religious life, Sr. Annette ministered to the (arch) dioceses of Providence, RI and Hartford, CT.  Initially she was a classroom teacher at St. Anthony School in Bristol, CT; Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Bristol Rhode Island; St. Sebastian School of Middletown, CT; and St. Ann School in New Britain, CT.  In 1985 she was assigned to Torrington, CT, where she was first a teacher, and later Vice Principal and then Principal of St. Peter School, and St. Peter / St. Francis School until 2006 when she was assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Branford, CT singing with their music ministry for masses and funerals.  A devoted and exceptional educator, she then transitioned to St. Mary’s School in Branford as Assistant Principal and Principal and completed her educational calling as Assistant Principal of East Shoreline Catholic Academy in Branford.  In 2022, due to serious health issues, Sr. Annette was transferred to St. Joseph Hall, Villa Walsh, Morristown, NJ.

In her community leadership roles Sr. Annette was appointed convent Superior and was elected Provincial Councilor for the Religious Teachers Filippini.

Sr. Annette was musically gifted, and she proudly shared her talents in the parish and school communities where she served.  Aside from teaching children, her joy was her love of singing, accompanied by her playing guitar. As principal of St. Peter School, she always planned the 8th grade class trip with a Broadway musical in New York City and once was offered to live out part of her dream on The Warner Theatre mainstage.  Her music will be perpetuated by her recorded CD’s “Sr. Annette Sings” with various people accompanying her.

Sr. Annette was also gifted in her vision of enhancing the celebration of liturgies and decorating St. Peter Church.  Families and students alike looked forward to the annual Living Stations of the Cross.  Parishioners were blessed to worship in churches with beautifully decorated altars.

She is survived by her sister, Linda Raffa of Niantic, CT; two nieces Stefanie and Gretchen, as well as one great nephew, Amare.   In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother-in-law Frank Raffa.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, commencing at 1:30 p.m. at St. Lucy Chapel, Villa Walsh, Morristown, NJ, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 3:00 p.m.  Interment will follow the Liturgy at Ave Maria Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sr. Annette may be made to the Religious Teachers Filippini, c/o Sr. Patricia Pompa, MPF, Villa Walsh, 455 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960.

A Months Mind Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Church, (St. John Paul the Great Parish) 99 East Main St., Torrington, CT 06790.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sr. Annette may be made to St. John Paul the Great Academy, 360 Prospect St., Torrington, CT 06790

Condolences may be sent to the family of Sr. Annette by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com

God saw you were getting tired, and a cure was not be, so He put His arms around you, and whispered “Come with me”.  Each time we see your picture, you seem to smile and say, “Don’t cry, I’m in God’s keeping, we’ll meet again someday”.