Obituary of Antoinette M. Paternoster

Antoinette (Toni) M. Paternoster, age 96, a long-time resident of Stratford, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 3, 2022 surrounded by her loving family in Shelton, CT.   Born in Norwalk, CT on February 23, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Giovanni and Assunta (Vento) Cenatempo.

Toni led a remarkable life professionally and personally.  She was a ground-breaking career woman during the 1950’s working in New York City for Time Life Magazine and then spent her remaining working years as a Legal Secretary for prominent attorneys in CT. She prided herself on her ability to take “Gregg” shorthand; a lost art as she would say.

Toni and her husband Lewis were married in 1961 and had many adventures together over the years.  They traveled extensively taking multiple trips to Europe; across the U.S.; and Disney World with the grand kids after they retired.  Toni made friends wherever she went.   She was kind and thoughtful in a way that was truly one of a kind.   Her positive outlook was infectious, and she went out of her way to make everyone she met feel special. Her devotion to her family as a wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother was unsurpassed; always being there when she was needed.  She made many friends over the years and since moving to Shelton became a well-loved member of the community where she lived. 

Her greatest joy was spending time with her family, especially her two granddaughters whom she adored.  She is survived by two beloved daughters; Barbara Nolan-Paternoster of West Haven and Susan Paternoster (Tricia Raneri) of Stamford; her brother Joseph Cenatempo of Trumbull and sister Angie (Cenatempo) Breny of Norwalk; and two granddaughters, Lindsay Ann Nolan and Heather Antoinette Nolan as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Lewis Paternoster.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. directly in St. Mark Church, 500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Relatives and friends may greet the family on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull. Face masks will be required.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude, the charitable organization she donated to for over 50 years.  Please reference Antoinette Paternoster (memorial ID 22980792) in your donation. Checks payable to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org.